anteador

The anteador, also known as the *Antedon bifida*, is a species of feather star, a type of echinoderm belonging to the class Crinoidea. These marine invertebrates are characterized by their distinctive, delicate appearance, featuring long, branching arms that resemble feathers. The name "anteador" is derived from the Latin *ante* (meaning "before") and *ador* (referring to the ancient Roman god Adonis), likely due to its resemblance to the god’s mythical adornments.

Feather stars are commonly found in shallow coastal waters, coral reefs, and sandy or muddy seabeds across tropical and temperate regions worldwide. They attach themselves to substrates using a long, flexible stalk or crawl along the ocean floor using their tube feet. Unlike sea stars, which are their more familiar relatives, feather stars are primarily suspension feeders, using their arms to capture plankton and organic particles from the water.

The *Antedon bifida* is particularly notable for its ability to regenerate lost arms, a trait shared by many crinoids. This adaptability contributes to their resilience in various marine environments. While they play a role in the ecosystem by filtering water and serving as prey for larger marine organisms, they are not typically targeted by commercial fisheries. However, some species of feather stars are collected for aquarium trade due to their striking appearance.

Feather stars exhibit sexual reproduction, with individuals releasing gametes into the water column, where fertilization occurs externally. Their life cycle includes a free-swimming larval stage before settling onto a substrate as juveniles. Conservation efforts are generally not focused on feather stars, as they are not currently considered threatened, though habitat degradation and pollution may indirectly affect their populations.