Floor Critters of the Caribbean
 
 
  
Ophiura sp. 
Brittle Star
Brittle Stars 

Brittle stars live everywhere on the coral reef. They prefer dark shadows, and will live in practically any hole, especially in vase sponges. 

 
  
Cyphoma gibbosum 
Flamingo Tongue Snail
Snails 

The Flamingo Tongue gets as big as 1 inch long. The shell is smooth, glossy pink or orange. They usually reside on sea fans. Most snails eat sea grass, but the Flamingo Tongue is one of the few predators of corals.

 
 
Nemaster rubiginosa 
 Orange Sea Lily
Sea Lilies 

The Orange Sea Lily is the most common sea lily on many Caribbean reefs. It is bright orange and usually curled on the tips. Lilies feed on plankton that float into their mucous-covered feathery feet. Cilia convey the food to the mouth. 
 

 
 
Periclimenes pedersoni 
Pederson's Cleaning Shrimp
Shrimp 

Pederson's Cleaning Shrimp gets only as big as 1 inch long. It is transparent with purplish overtones. They like to hang out in Ringed and Giant Caribbean Anemones. 

 
Text source: A Field Guide to Coral Reefs, by Kaplan, 1982, Houghton Mifflin Boston
Photo source: Karibik, by Humann, Stoll, & Ritter, 1989, Sturtz Verlag Wurzburg
 
coral ~ fishes ~ swimming critters ~ floor critters