sea pen
Feathery ocean colony
A sea pen is a soft coral that grows on the ocean floor, resembling a quill pen stuck in sediment.
These colonial animals consist of a central stalk anchored in sand or mud, with feathery branches extending outward.
Sea pens can glow with bioluminescence when disturbed.
Stinging aquatic invertebrate
- invertebrateAnimal sans backbone
- benthicOf the sea bottom
- soft coralFlexible reef-building invertebrate
- sessileAttached at base
filter feeder · plankton · detritus · ocean floor · continental shelf · marine biology · aquarium
Fleshy membrane projection
- tentacleFlexible grasping appendage
- rachisCentral supporting shaft
- peduncleFlower-bearing stalk
- pinnateHaving paired lateral parts
calcium carbonate · central axis · feather-like · plume · branches · bilateral symmetry
Of occupied territories
- polypsFixed aquatic invertebrates
- buddingDeveloping from an outgrowth
- clonalGenetically identical copies
- aggregateCombined sum total
compound · communal · integrated · cooperative · anchoring · sandy bottom
Steady, soft light
- luminescentEmitting soft light
- green lightAuthorization to proceed
- blue lightHigh-energy visible radiation
- warning signalNotice of impending hazard
cnidarian
Stinging aquatic invertebrate
- invertebrateAnimal sans backbone
- benthicOf the sea bottom
- soft coralFlexible reef-building invertebrate
sessile · filter feeder · plankton · detritus · ocean floor · continental shelf · marine biology · aquarium
polyp
Fleshy membrane projection
pinnate · calcium carbonate · central axis · feather-like · plume · branches · bilateral symmetry
colonial
Of occupied territories
- polypsFixed aquatic invertebrates
- buddingDeveloping from an outgrowth
- clonalGenetically identical copies
aggregate · compound · communal · integrated · cooperative · anchoring · sandy bottom
glow
Steady, soft light
- luminescentEmitting soft light
- green lightAuthorization to proceed
- blue lightHigh-energy visible radiation