Zool. Pl. comatulæ. [L. fem. of comātulus, dim. of comātus (see COMATE).] A genus of free-swimming Crinoid Echinoderms, of a radiate shape with (usually) ten cirrous arms; the feather-star.
1851. Richardson, Geol., viii. 228. Comatula has neither stem nor root.
1878. Bell, Gegenbauer’s Comp. Anat., 204. In the young stages of the Comatulæ, a simple knob-like piece unites the skeleton of the stalk with the body.
