GENERAL HISTOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -sea lily, any crinoid marine invertebrate animal (class Crinoidea, phylum Echinodermata ) in which the adult is fixed to the sea bottom by a stalk. Other crinoids (such as feather stars) resemble sea lilies; however, they lack a stalk and can move from place to place.

Detailed explanation-2: -Crinoids that are attached to the sea bottom by a stalk in their adult form are commonly called sea lilies, while the unstalked forms are called feather stars or comatulids, which are members of the largest crinoid order, Comatulida.

Detailed explanation-3: -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.

Detailed explanation-4: -Crinoids are known as sea lilies because they live on a stem and have a flower-like body. They are analogous to starfish with a stem. Although still existing but uncommon in the oceans today, they were very abundant in shallow tropical seas during the Paleozoic.