A little about discovery

A team of marine scientists from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego, embarked on a mission to unravel the evolutionary lineage of a particular group of sea creatures. Promachrinusor Antarctic feather stars. Their research led to a careful analysis of samples originally documented during a series of expeditions to the Southern Ocean from 2008 to 2017.

Although these creatures belong to the larger family of echinoderms, which includes starfish and sea cucumbers, they remain a mystery. So far, only one species has been definitively identified in this genus – Promachocrinus kerguelensis. Samples collected earlier from these expeditions showed that they belonged to this category, although not conclusively proven. Thanks to a combination of genetic analysis and the study of physical characteristics, the researchers were able to successfully identify many different representatives of the genus.

strawberry feather star

This is an important step forward because the team seven new species Promachcrinus, which includes four species not previously classified scientifically. Perhaps the most visually exciting of these discoveries, Promachcrinus fragariusaffectionately referred to as the “Antarctic strawberry plume star”.

This creature, whose middle part resembles a strawberry, has an impressive set of 20 arms radiating from its core. Its natural color can vary from purple to a deep reddish shade. Experts estimate its habitat is underwater at depths ranging from 215 to 3,840 feet.

Antarctic strawberry plume star / Photo: McLaughlin, Wilson, Rouse/Invertebrate Systematics

While this scientific breakthrough has revealed some of the secrets of Antarctic marine life, it’s just the tip of the iceberg as there are many undiscovered species living in these remote waters. The researchers emphasize that living DNA samples play a key role in their research. Unraveling the mysterious life forms in Antarctica’s ocean depths requires more complex and broader study, so there’s still a long way to go to understand this unique ecosystem.