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Sea lilies and feather stars (class Crinoidea) are marine echinoderms related to sea stars and sea urchins. Their body consists of a central disc from which several branched arms extend, covered with tiny tube feet. These arms are used to capture small food particles suspended in the water. Crinoids inhabit oceans around the world, from shallow coastal waters to great depths, and play an important role in marine ecosystems as suspension feeders. Sea lily (Antedon mediterranea) is one of the most common and recognizable crinoid species in the Mediterranean Sea and the Adriatic Sea. It occurs from shallow waters to depths exceeding 200 m, although it is most commonly found between 10 and 100 m. Its coloration is highly variable and may range from yellow and orange to reddish, brown, or dark purple. Unlike stalked sea lilies, adult individuals do not possess a permanent stalk. Instead, they use specialized appendages called cirri to anchor themselves temporarily or move across the substrate. This species is remarkably mobile and can swim by rhythmically waving its feathery arms, allowing it to relocate to more favourable habitats or escape predators. During the day it often hides among rocks, algae, and seagrass meadows, while at night it spreads its arms to maximize the capture of plankton and other suspended organic particles carried by water currents.