Palaeos: Palaeos Anthozoa
Cnidaria Cerantipatharia


Subclass Cerantipatharia

Horny Corals

Pachycerianthus fimbriatus
Tube Anemone
Class Anthozoa - Subclass Cerantipatharia - Order Ceriantharia - Family Cerianthariidae

image copyright © Keith Clements and Jon Gross Marine Life of the Northeast Pacific

Included in this subclass are two superficially rather distinct forms. Alternatively they may be included with Rugose and Hexacorals in the subclass Zoantharia. It is possible that the Ceriantipatharia is a polyphyletic taxon


Subclass Ceriantipatharia 
          Order Antipatharia: black corals 
          Order Ceriantharia: tube anemones 




Order Cerantharia - anemone-like forms with elongate bodies adapted for burrowing - the so-called "burrowing sea anemones". These are large solitary Anthozoa adapted for life in soft bottoms. The body is lodged with a secreted mucous tube buried in sand or mud e.g.. Cerianthus (above)




Order Antipatharia: Black or Horny Corals.  These are gorgonian-like upright plant-like forms.  Polyps are arranged around an axial skeleton of black horny material bearing thorns.  Most forms are deep water and live in the tropics.





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Text by M. Alan Kazlev (Creative Commons Attribution) 1999-2002
page uploaded 16 June 2002
(originally uploaded on Kheper Site 4 June 1999)
checked ATW050516