Pterogorgiidae
Pterogorgiidae is a family of sea anemones in the order Actiniaria. They are characterized by their elongated, cylindrical body form and their distinctive, often brightly colored tentacles. Members of this family are found worldwide in a variety of marine environments, from shallow coastal waters to the deep sea.
Common Names
Pterogorgiidae are commonly known as "long-tentacled anemones" or "tube anemones," a name that reflects their distinctive morphology.
Characteristics
Pterogorgiidae share a number of characteristic features, including:
- An elongated, cylindrical body, often with a distinct stalk or column.
- Numerous tentacles, often arranged in whorls or rings, that can be long and slender or short and stout.
- A basal disc for attachment to substrates, such as rocks, corals, or seaweeds.
- A mouth located at the apex of the column, surrounded by a ring of tentacles.
- A pharynx, or throat, that leads to the gastrovascular cavity.
- A mesentery, or internal partition, that divides the gastrovascular cavity into compartments.
- A variety of colors and patterns, often with bright hues of red, orange, yellow, green, or blue.
Environments
Pterogorgiidae are found in a wide range of marine environments, including:
- Shallow coastal waters, such as rocky shores, coral reefs, and seagrass beds.
- Deep sea environments, such as abyssal plains and hydrothermal vents.
- Temperate and tropical waters around the world.
References
For more information on Pterogorgiidae, consult these reliable sources: