Sea Pen

Sea Pen
Related Category: Zoology: Invertebrates
long, slender colonial organism of the same phylum as the jellyfish. Sea pen colonies are formed by several genera of the order Pennatulacea.

Each sea pen is a colony of polyps (small anemonelike individuals) working together for the survival of the whole.

Orange Sea Pen Ptilosarcus gurneyi
Unlike the majority of anthozoans, sea pens live in areas of sand and mud. They get their name from their resemblance to an old-fashioned quill pen.

Tall sea pen (Funiculina quadrangularis)
Sea pens are colonial organisms that belong to the same group as corals and sea anemones. Each animal comprises of a colony of soft-bodied... More 4 Images 0 videos ...

Called sea pens, these creatures take many other shapes.
Colorful Sea Pens Decorate Ocean Floor
These other worldly animals are found in both deep and shallow water.

Corals: Sea Fans, Sea Pen (Philosarcus gurneyi), Moonglow Anenome (Anthopleura artemesia), Burrowing Anenome (Pachycerianthus fimbriatus), Giant Green Anenome (Anthopleura xanthogrammica), Leathery Sea Anenome (Heteractis crispa), Pink Tip Anenome, ...

Anthozoans include sea anemones, a variety of corals, sea fans, and sea pens. Sea anemones are carnivorous polyps that are quite large, ranging up to 200mm in length. They tend to be brightly colored. Most species live in warm water.

All known nudibranchs are grazing carnivores and as a whole they feed on a wide variety of animals including sponges, hydroids, tunicates, anemones, corals, sea pens, bryozoans, barnacles, and sometimes other nudibranchs! ...

When it is found in sheltered areas, the leather star feeds on sea cucumbers, sea pens, and sponges. Some leather stars scavenge on the bottom of the ocean. Leather stars have sensors at the end of each of their arms which detect prey.

Cnidarians are classified into four main groups: the almost wholly sessile Anthozoa (sea anemones, corals, sea pens); swimming Scyphozoa (jellyfish); Cubozoa (box jellies); and Hydrozoa, ...

At sea Penguins have to deal with a different selection of predators. Leopard Seals (Hydrurga leptonyx), Fur Seals (Arctocephalus Spp.), ...

Those coral species with eight tentacles are known as Alcyonaria, which includes soft coral, sea fans and sea pens.

See also: Coral, Sea Anemone, Shell, Sea Slug, Jellyfish