Identification of feather stars (Echinodermata: Crinoidea: Comatulida) at Subic Bay, Zambales, Philippines

A taxonomic survey of the feather stars collected from three dive sites, LST Wreck, San Quentin Wreck, and South Reef Canyons Coral Reef at Subic Bay, Zambales during the months of June, July, and October 2007, yielded 15 specimens belonging to four families and eight species. The eight species (order Comatulida) identified and confirmed by Dr. Charles Messing are: Cenometra bella, Capillaster multiradiatus, Comanthus parvicirrus, Comaster nobilis, Comatella nigra, Himerometra robustipinna, Phanogenia gracilis and Stephanometra tenuipinna. This study represents the first proper documentation of crinoid species in three dive sites at Subic Bay, Zambales, Philippines