Antipatharia
Quick Summary
Antipatharia is an order of Anthozoa, which are invertebrate marine organisms belonging to the phylum Cnidaria. These are commonly known as black or thorny corals.1
Antipatharians are characterized by their skeletons, which are typically brown or black, hornlike, and much branched. The polyps of these corals have few mesenteries or tentacles. While the term "coral" can refer to various organisms with stony, horny, or leathery skeletons, Antipatharia specifically refers to the black and thorny corals. These corals can be whiplike, featherlike, or treelike in form. They are found in various locations, including the Mediterranean Sea and the West Indies.12
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cnidarianAnnotated classificationOrder Antipatharia Black coral. Large bushy colonies with thorny, hornlike axial skeleton formed by small polyps with 6 simple tentacles and 1 siphonoglyph. Mostly tropical and subtropical. Order Ceriantharia Tube anemones. Solitary polyps with 2 sets of tentacles (oral and marginal) that form feltlike tubes of…
Read MoreOrder Antipatharia Black coral. Large bushy colonies with thorny, hornlike axial skeleton formed by small polyps with 6 simple tentacles and 1 siphonoglyph. Mostly tropical and subtropical. Order Ceriantharia Tube anemones. Solitary polyps with 2 sets of tentacles (oral and marginal) that form feltlike tubes of…
Read More- cnidarianCritical appraisal
Similarity of larval ceriantharians to antipatharian polyps is the rationale for subclass Ceriantipatharia. Morphology of antipatharians is, however, in some ways, nearer that of alcyonarians than of zoantharians, and alternative schemes place Antipatharia in subclass Alcyonaria. Ceriantharia, too, sits uncomfortably in Zoantharia, although it bears no special relationship to the…
Read MoreSimilarity of larval ceriantharians to antipatharian polyps is the rationale for subclass Ceriantipatharia. Morphology of antipatharians is, however, in some ways, nearer that of alcyonarians than of zoantharians, and alternative schemes place Antipatharia in subclass Alcyonaria. Ceriantharia, too, sits uncomfortably in Zoantharia, although it bears no special relationship to the…
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- cnidarianImportance
…fans, sea whips, and black corals are cut or bent into beads, bracelets, and cameos.
Read More…fans, sea whips, and black corals are cut or bent into beads, bracelets, and cameos.
Read More - cnidarianSupport mechanisms and skeletons
Colonies of black coral resemble bushes and may stand more than three metres tall. Their skeletons, made entirely of proteinaceous material similar to gorgonin, are likewise used for jewelry.
Read MoreColonies of black coral resemble bushes and may stand more than three metres tall. Their skeletons, made entirely of proteinaceous material similar to gorgonin, are likewise used for jewelry.
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