Article: Form and function of the stem in a pseudoplanktonic crinoid (Seirocrinus)
Publication: Palaeontology
Volume:
11
Part:
2
Publication Date:
March
1968
Page(s):
275
–
282
Author(s):
Adolf Seilacher, Günther Drozdzewski and Reimund Haude
Abstract
The position of crowns and stems in the rock indicates that Seirocrinus subangularis lived attached to floating logs in spite of its unusual size. The distribution of weight and flexibility along its stem is inverse to most other crinoids, but corresponds to the assumed habitat. A few general growth gradients seem to control this and other adaptive modifications of the crinoid stems.