Cenometra bella seems to prefer using its cirri to grasp gorgonians, whip corals and black corals, where it can rise a bit off the bottom to get better exposure to passing currents carrying its planktonic food. Since the larger gorgonians and black corals tend to be rather deep on the outer slopes, that is where you usually see these crinoids, sometimes crowding along the upper edge of large fans with their arms spread out to a maximum surface area for catching food. When not feeding, these crinoids tend to fold back their pinnae and curl up their arms sometimes forming an almost ball-like shape. Most seem to be in shades of black and white.
Occasionally you can find one on a stony coral, such as the one below on a large colony of red Distichopora at Namu Atoll, Marshall Islands.
Large gorgonians may support a cluster of the crinoids.
When not in feeding mode, they tend to fold up their pinnae and curl their arms.
Flapping in a strong current.
Created 23 March 2019