Mumbai, August 25: In a bizarre discovery, scientists have discovered an enthralling creature with 20 arms unearthed in the icy waters near the shores of Antarctica. According to a report featured on CTV News, this newfound creature is now colloquially referred to as the "Antarctic strawberry feather" due to its uncanny resemblance to the contours of a strawberry. With an intriguing configuration boasting around 20 arms, the creature's hue shows colours ranging from a "purplish" hue to a more intense "dark reddish" shade.

The creature, named Promachocrinus fragarius, took the spotlight when the journal Invertebrate Systematics published an article on it. This moniker draws inspiration from the Latin word for strawberry due to its resemblance to the fruit's shape. Representing a variant of the Antarctic feather star, the Promachocrinus fragarius displays an assortment of either 20 or 10 arms. According to the report, antarctic feather stars live at ocean depths ranging from 65 to 6500 feet. New Sea Monster Species Found! Researchers Discover ‘Otherworldly Creatures’ Called Antarctic Strawberry Feather Star in Oceans Around Antarctica (See Pics).

'Antarctic Strawberry Feather'

Between 2008 and 2017, the scientific team embarked on multiple voyages to the Antarctic Ocean in search of a collection of "cryptic" marine animals known as Promachocrinus species or Antarctic feather stars, which they characterised as having "otherworldly" motions. The study noted that the team took samples from all around the world, including the Siple Coast, Diego Ramirez and Prince Edward Island. Creepy Creature With Sharp Teeth Found Dead on Crystal Beach! Netizens Call The Strange Eel-Like Animal 'Straight Outta The Depths Of Hell'; See Viral Pics.

"In total, the scientists were able to identify seven new species under the name Promachocrinus, increasing the total number of known Antarctic feather species from one to eight," the researchers said. The researchers further emphasised that these creatures inhabit a range spanning from approximately 65 to 1,170 meters under the ocean's surface. At initial observation, the Antarctic strawberry feather star may appear as an alien. However, upon closer examination of photographs capturing the aquatic being, its strawberry-like form and texture become more visible.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 25, 2023 06:07 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).