Feather star, also referred to as a crinoid, is a marine animal that belongs to the echinoderm family. It is characterised by feathery arms that filter food from the water. Synonyms for feather star include sea lilies, comatulids, feather stars, and crinoids. The term sea lilies is used to describe feather stars that anchor themselves to the sea floor using a long stalk. Comatulids is another name used to describe these animals due to the unique appearance of their feathery arms. Feather stars also refer to the way they move through the water, resembling a feather floating in the breeze. The term crinoids comes from the Greek word "krinon," meaning "lily," and "eidos," meaning "form," due to their resemblance to flowers in bloom.