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Though they look sluggish, primitive, these are specialized animals,
well-adapted to their soft sediment based lives. Like icebergs you are only
seeing part of the story when observing them, for another part other than the
"above ground" rachis, the feeding mechanism, exists below... the
muscular peduncle, anchoring the colonial animal to the sea bottom.
Sea Pansies:
| Renilla koellikeri in the Sea of Cortez; L.A.
Bay. |
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Sea Pens:
The majority of sea pens are comprised of a singular
stalk, incorporating calcium carbonate sclerites for structure, with varying
polyps, branches that may be evidenced only when these animals are actively
feeding. Many are nocturnal.
| Cavernularia cf. obesa Valenciennes in Milne
Edwards & Haime 1850. Sausage-shaped overall. Large polyps extend all
around rachis. India to Eastern Pacific. Possibly 14 species in this
genus, some photosynthetic and open during the day, others nocturnal.
Aquarium pix at a marine livestock wholesaler. |
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| Pteroides sp. A large (up to 60 cm. tall), stiff
species, with brush-like lateral branching. Often found with the commensal
crab Porcellanella picta
in association. Twenty five plus valid
species. Europe; Mediterranean, Indo-West Pacific; Africa to Japan. N.
Sulawesi pic.
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| Virgularia sp. A red and tan feather-like species. To
about 10 cm. in height. Nocturnal. West-Pacific; Philippines. N. Sulawesi
pic. |
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| Virgularia sp. A tan feather-like species. To
about 25 cm. in height. West-Pacific; Philippines. N. Sulawesi
pic. |
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