The discovery of a strange creature with 20 arms
New creature discovered
Scientists aboard a research ship near Antarctica pulled their nets from the cold ocean waters and, among their catches, found a strange creature with 20 arms.
The scientists were looking for a group of "rare" marine animals known as the Promachocrinus, or Antarctic feather stars.
Antarctic feather stars are "large" animals that can live anywhere from 65 feet to 6,500 feet underwater and "morph" when swimming.
What is the new creature?
During their surveys, the researchers collected 8 feather stars with a distinctive body shape and discovered a new species, named Promachocrinus fragarius, or the Antarctic strawberry feather star.
The Antarctic Strawberry Feather Star has 20 arms branching out from its "strawberry-like" central body, the study said.
It can range in color from "purple" to "dark reddish". The researchers did not provide measurements of the animal's total size.
The pictures show that the new types have two kinds of accessories. Its shorter lower arms appear streaked, almost bumpy, while its longer upper arms appear feathered and smooth.
A close-up image shows the lower body of the Antarctic Strawberry Feather Star. It has a triangular shape, wider at the top and tapering towards a rounded lower end.
The researchers named this new species "strawberry" because of the "similarity of the (body) shape...with strawberries."
Source: websites