First report of Tropiometra carinata and its colour morphs from the Gujarat coast, India

The present study is the first comprehensive report on the occurrence of the elegant feather star Tropiometra carinata with eighteen different morphs from the intertidal area of the Gujarat, India. Tropiometra carinata was discovered for the first time on the Gujarat coast. The species shows variation in its colour pattern such as fully brown to reddish brown, yellow with dark stripes to dark brown, some specimens have brown -yellow doted, brown -white patches, blotches, brown -yellow stripes, brown -white stripes, whole white, whole pale whitish yellow. The present study aims to prevent researchers to be misled by the coloration and misidentify the species.