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Echinoptilidae

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Echinoptilidae
Actinoptilum molle
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Octocorallia
Order: Pennatulacea
Family: Echinoptilidae
Hubrecht, 1885
Genera
See text

Echinoptilidae is a family of sea pens, a member of the subclass Octocorallia in the phylum Cnidaria.

Characteristics

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Colonies are cylindrical without axis, and the rachis is generally longer than the peduncle. The colony may be radially or bilaterally symmetrical. Autozooids have non-retractile, bifurcated calyces with many sclerites.[1]

Distribution

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Indo-West Pacific to south western Africa in shallow sublittoral to over 800m depth.[1]

Genera

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The World Register of Marine Species list the following genera:[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b The Pennatulacea of Southern Africa (Coelentrata, Anthozoa), Annals of the South African Museum Volume 99 May 1990 part 4, Cape Town. ISBN 0 86813 109 1
  2. ^ van Ofwegen, L. (2012). Echinoptilidae. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=196247 on 2013-04-19