The stalk joints of recent genera representative of the crinoid family Isocrinidae have been observed with the scanning electron microscope. This study indicates that the detailed morphology of the symplexial and synostosial articulations has taxonomic significance. Neocrimis and Hypalociinus differ from the other genera by many characters. They have affinities with the fossil Balanocrinus group. Such a study is of interest for comparison between the fossil and recent taxa with respect to the variability of the external morphology of the stalk
