Is a Crinoid an Echinoderm?

Crinoids are marine animals belonging to the phylum Echinodermata and the class Crinoidea. They are an ancient fossil group that first appeared in the seas of the mid Cambrian, about 300 million years before dinosaurs. They flourished in the Palaeozoic and Mesozoic eras and some survive to the present day.

What is a crinoid and why are they considered echinoderms?

Crinoid, any marine invertebrate of the class Crinoidea (phylum Echinodermata) usually possessing a somewhat cup-shaped body and five or more flexible and active arms. The arms, edged with feathery projections (pinnules), contain the reproductive organs and carry numerous tube feet with sensory functions.

What makes a crinoid an animal?

Crinoids are echinoderms and are true animals even though they are commonly called sea lilies. The body lies in a cup-shaped skeleton (calyx) made out of interlocking calcium carbonate plates. Arms attached to the calyx also have a plated skeleton and are used to capture food particles.