Comaster schlegelii is a common species on the seaward reef and current swept lagoon reefs and pinnacles. A large species, it is usually found clinging to coral and rock outcrops. Unlike Anneissia bennetti, which tends to stand up on its numerous cirri, C. schlegelii tends to "squat.;" the cirri are usually hidden by the curving arms, of which the lower and outer ones help the fewer cirri anchor the crinoid to its substrate. They vary considerably in color, some being solid yellow and others white to yellow to dark, often with red ribs on the arms and dark pinnae with white tips. Frequently those with dark arms have scattered short segments of white on them. The many photos below show some but not all color variations.
The darker arms behind the yellow Comaster schlegelii appear to be those of Anneissia bennetti.
The color of the three photos below looks like A. bennetti, but the position looks more like C. schlegelii. We'd need to see the cirri for a positive ID.
Although usually attached to hard corals or rock, sometimes individuals can be seen on gorgonians.
The darker one behind might be A. bennetti.
The black and yellow ones below are Anneissia bennetti.
The more yellow one below is C. schlegelii; the brown one could be the one we are calling Anneissia cf bennetti.
The one on pink Styaster below could be Anneissia cf bennetti.
Created 23 March 2019