Uploaded April 2025 | Updated September 2026, 18 hours ago
Sea lilies, or crinoids, are an incredible class of echinoderms, with around 600 species scattered across our oceans. From the shallow coral reefs to the extreme depths of 9,000 metres, crinoids thrive by feeding on drifting algae. Despite their plant-like appearance, they are animals and close relatives of other echinoderms like sea stars, brittle stars, and sea cucumbers. We spotted these crinoids during our 2019 Imappivut expedition off the coast of Labrador.
Sea lilies, or crinoids, are an incredible class of echinoderms, with around 600 species scattered across our oceans. From the shallow coral reefs to the extreme depths of 9,000 metres, crinoids thrive by feeding on drifting algae. Despite their plant-like appearance, they are animals and close relatives of other echinoderms like sea stars, brittle stars, and sea cucumbers. We spotted these crinoids during our 2019 Imappivut expedition off the coast of Labrador.
