Rhabdopleura

invertebrate genus

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Last updated

July 13, 2026

Quick Summary

Rhabdopleura is a genus of marine invertebrates belonging to the class Pterobranchia within the phylum Hemichordata. These small animals are characterized by having two tentacle-bearing arms used to filter food from the water.12

Pterobranchs, including those in the Rhabdopleura genus, typically live in secreted tubes and can form colonial structures called coenecia. While most species reproduce asexually to create colonies of genetically identical individuals, Rhabdopleura and Cephalodiscus are the two genera that live in tubes, organized into colonies. The third genus, Atubaria, lives on hydroids. About 21 species of pterobranchs have been described, and they are considered rare. Some scientists believe pterobranchs may be descended from extinct marine animals known as graptolites.2

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pterobranch
Two of them, Rhabdopleura and Cephalodiscus, live in secreted tubes, organized into a colonial structure called a coenecium. The third genus, Atubaria, lives on hydroids. All three genera are rare. About 21 species have been described.
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Two of them, Rhabdopleura and Cephalodiscus, live in secreted tubes, organized into a colonial structure called a coenecium. The third genus, Atubaria, lives on hydroids. All three genera are rare. About 21 species have been described.
Read More

skeleton
Crystals
…group, and in the protochordates, Rhabdopleura and Cephalodiscus. Some graptolites, known only from fossil skeletal remains many millions of years old, had skeletons similar to those of Rhabdopleura.
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…group, and in the protochordates, Rhabdopleura and Cephalodiscus. Some graptolites, known only from fossil skeletal remains many millions of years old, had skeletons similar to those of Rhabdopleura.
Read More