BIOTIC

BIOTIC Species Information for Funiculina quadrangularis

Click here to view the MarLIN Key Information Review for Funiculina quadrangularis

Researched by

Olwen Ager

Data supplied by

MarLIN

Refereed by

This information is not refereed.

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Funiculina quadrangularis

Common name

The tall sea pen

MCS Code

D615

Recent Synonyms

None

Phylum

Cnidaria

Subphylum

Superclass

Anthozoa

Class

Octocorallia

Subclass

Order

Pennatulacea

Suborder

Family

Funiculinidae

Genus

Funiculina

Species

quadrangularis

Subspecies

Additional Information

Taxonomy References

Howson & Picton, 1997, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Manuel, 1988, Hayward et al., 1996,

General Biology

Growth form

Pinnate

Feeding method

Passive suspension feeder

Mobility/Movement

Temporary attachment

Environmental position

Epibenthic
Epifaunal

Typical food types

Plankton and organic particles

Habit

Attached

Bioturbator

Not relevant

Flexibility

Low (10-45 degrees)

Fragility

Intermediate

Size

Large(>50cm)

Height

Up to ca 2 m

Growth Rate

Insufficient information

Adult dispersal potential

No information found

Dependency

Independent

Sociability

Colonial

Toxic/Poisonous?

General Biology Additional Information

Flexibility
Eno et al. (1996) found that the tall sea pen bends away from lobster creels dropped on of them in a passive response to the pressure wave travelling ahead of the pot.

Associated species
The deep-water brittlestar, Asteronyx loveni, which has been recorded sporadically from the west coast of Scotland (Hughes, 1998b), is known to use its arms to cling to Funiculina quadrangularis (Fujita & Ohta, 1988).

Biology References

Eno et al., 1996, Hughes, 1998(b), Jones et al., 2000, Fujita & Ohta, 1988,

Distribution and Habitat

Distribution in Britain & Ireland

West and north coasts of Ireland and Scotland.

Global distribution

Funiculina quadrangularis occurs in the North Atlantic and Mediterranean. It has been recorded in New Zealand (Manuel, 1988) and Japan (Fujita & Ohta, 1988).

Biogeographic range

Not researched

Depth range

20-2000m

Migratory

Non-migratory / Resident

Distribution Additional Information

Substratum preferences

Mud
Muddy sand

Physiographic preferences

Open coast
Sealoch

Biological zone

Upper Circalittoral
Lower Circalittoral

Wave exposure

Sheltered
Very Sheltered
Extremely Sheltered
Ultra Sheltered

Tidal stream strength/Water flow

Weak (<1 kn)
Very Weak (negligible)

Salinity

Full (30-40 psu)

Habitat Preferences Additional Information

Distribution References

Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Manuel, 1988, Hayward et al., 1996, Hughes, 1998(b), Fujita & Ohta, 1988,

Reproduction/Life History

Reproductive type

Gonochoristic

Developmental mechanism

Insufficient information

Reproductive Season

Insufficient information

Reproductive Location

Insufficient information

Reproductive frequency

Insufficient information

Regeneration potential

Life span

See additional information

Age at reproductive maturity

See additional information

Generation time

See additional information

Fecundity

Insufficient information

Egg/propagule size

Insufficient information

Fertilization type

Insufficient information

Larvae/Juveniles
Larval/Juvenile dispersal potential	Insufficient information	Larval settlement period	Insufficient information
Duration of larval stage	Insufficient information

Reproduction Preferences Additional Information

Sexes in sea pens are separate; each colony of polyps are either male or female.
Hughes (1998b) suggests, using the information from other species of seapen, that Funiculina quadrangularis may follow a similar pattern of patchy recruitment, slow growth and a long life span.
Birkeland (1974) found the life span of Ptilosarcus gurneyi to be 15 years, reaching sexual maturity between the ages of 5 and 6 this may be similar in Funiculina quadrangularis

Reproduction References

Hughes, 1998(b), Birkeland, 1974,