Pennatulacea

views updated May 23 2018

Pennatulacea (sea pens; class Anthozoa, subclass Octocorallia) An order of colonial octocorals that have an elongate primary polyp embedded in mud on the sea-bottom. The distal end of the primary polyp bears secondary polyps, usually on lateral branches. The polyps are supported by a calcareous or horny skeleton. They are known first as fossils from Cretaceous and Tertiary strata, and with uncertainty from the Silurian. The order contains two suborders, 14 families, and about 40 genera.

A Dictionary of Zoology MICHAEL ALLABY

Pennatulacea

views updated May 08 2018

Pennatulacea See OCTOCORALLIA.

A Dictionary of Earth Sciences AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY

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Pennatulacea

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