New Creature With 20 Arms Found Lurking in Antarctica

Scientists on a research ship near Antarctica discovered a new creature with 20 arms.

The new creature was discovered when the team cast nets in the Southern Ocean in search of a 'cryptic' group of marine animals called Promachocrinus , or Antarctic feather stars (a type of crinoid).

Close-up of the central part of the body of a strawberry feather star in the Antarctic ocean - (Photo: MIAMI HERALD).

This 'large' animal can live anywhere from about 20m to about 2km underwater and has a 'different appearance' when swimming. Specifically, the arms of this species are described as acting like an underwater dancer when moving. It is this rhythmic movement that has fascinated marine biologists.

Although both are marine invertebrates, feather stars are distinct from the more famous starfish.

During the survey, researchers collected eight feather stars with unique body shapes. Thanks to that, they discovered a new species: Promachocrinus fragarius , also known as the "Antarctic strawberry feather star ," according to the Miami Herald.

The close-up photo above shows the lower body of the Antarctic strawberry feather star. It is roughly triangular in shape, wider at the top and tapering to a point, while the lower body is rounded. According to biologist Angela Stevenson of the University of British Columbia, limb regeneration may be the reason the species has survived for more than 200 million years.

A preserved Antarctic strawberry star - (Photo: MIAMI HERALD).

The study, published in the journal Invertebrate Systematics, said the Antarctic strawberry feather star has 20 arms branching out from the centre of its body 'like a strawberry'. It can range in colour from purple to dark red.

It has two appendages. Its shorter, lower arms look almost striped and bumpy, while its longer, upper arms look almost furry and soft.

However, the researchers did not provide measurements of the animal's overall size.

Based on body shape and DNA analysis, they confirmed that this is an entirely new species.

Many news sites immediately associated the appearance of the Antarctic strawberry feather star with a strong resemblance to the Facehugger , the first alien creature introduced in the 1979 movie Alien.

They named it after the Latin word for 'strawberry' because of its strawberry-like body shape. They are found throughout the Southern Ocean, at depths ranging from about 65m to about 1.2km.

The crinoids spend most of their time attached to rocks and coral reefs. They rarely move from their habitat, so it is rare to see them swimming.

In addition to Promachocrinus fragarius, the researchers also recorded three new species of Antarctic feather stars.