Australian Biological Resources Study

Australian Faunal Directory

Museums

Regional Maps

Order PENNATULACEA Verrill, 1865


Compiler and date details

August 2015 - Dr Phil Alderslade

Introduction

“Sea pens” This order of soft corals is highly specialized for life in soft sediments or sand. The sea pen colony is composed of two parts - an 'above-ground' rachis that contains the feeding polyps and a 'below-ground' muscular peduncle that anchors the colony into the substrate. Named for their resemblance to a quill pen, sea pens form a central stalk, composed of calcium carbonate from which branches radiate, with polyps occurring along the rachis or branches. Most sea pens are nocturnal hence the ranchis emerges only after dark. Consulting specialist for this section was Dr Phil Alderslade.

 

History of changes

Note that this list may be incomplete for dates prior to September 2013.
Published As part of group Action Date Action Type Compiler(s)
05-Aug-2022 OCTOCORALLIA Haeckel, 1866 13-Aug-2013 MOVED Dr Phil Alderslade
05-Aug-2022 24-Nov-2011 MODIFIED
05-Aug-2022 29-Sep-2010 MODIFIED
12-Feb-2010 (import)