Pronunciation: [sˈiː lˈɪli] (IPA) 
The word "sea lily" is spelled with an /s/ sound at the beginning, followed by a long vowel sound represented by /i/. The word then continues with the sound /l/, followed by the sound /ɪ/, which is a shorter version of the previous vowel sound. Finally, the word ends with the sound /li/. This spelling accurately represents the pronunciation of the two-word term, which refers to a type of marine animal that resembles a flower.
Sea lilies are marine animals that belong to the class Crinoidea, characterized by their resemblance to the terrestrial plant lily. They are also commonly known as crinoids or feather stars. The term itself is a combination of "sea" due to their marine habitat and "lily" because of their flower-like appearance.
Sea lilies are ancient creatures that have been present on Earth for over 500 million years and can be found in oceans around the world, with a significant population in the Indo-Pacific region. They typically inhabit the sea floor, attached to rocks or other hard surfaces by a stalk-like structure called a stem, while their feathery arms extend into the water for feeding purposes.
These animals consist of a central body known as a calyx, which contains vital organs and is covered by a protective shell composed of plates. From the calyx, numerous branched arms arise, bearing feathery structures called pinnules. These pinnules are equipped with tiny tube feet used for capturing and moving food particles towards the mouth located at the center of the arms.
Sea lilies predominantly feed on suspended plankton, using their feather-like arms to create water currents that draw prey towards them. They are filter feeders, meaning they extract food particles from the surrounding water column using specialized appendages covered in mucus.
Despite their plant-like appearance, sea lilies are indeed animals, belonging to the same family as starfish, sea urchins, and sea cucumbers. Their unique morphology, ancient lineage, and delicate beauty make them a subject of fascination for marine biologists, paleontologists, and casual observers alike.
The word "sea lily" has a relatively straightforward etymology. It is derived from the combination of two words: "sea" and "lily".
The word "sea" originated from the Old English word "sǣ", which has Germanic roots. In various Germanic languages, such as Old Norse and Gothic, similar words exist with the same meaning. This ultimately traces back to the Proto-Germanic word "*saiwiz".
The word "lily", on the other hand, comes from the Old English word "lilie", which is derived from the Latin word "lilium". The Latin term "lilium" has been used for the true lilies that are terrestrial flowering plants.
When combined, "sea lily" refers to a type of marine animal that belongs to the class Crinoidea.
