Echinoptilidae is a family of sea pens, a member of the subclass Octocorallia in the phylum Cnidaria.
Characteristics Colonies are cylindrical without axis, and the rachis is generally longer than the peduncle. The colony may be radially or bilaterally symmetrical. Autozooids have non-retractile, bifurcated calyces with many sclerites.The Pennatulacea of Southern Africa (Coelentrata, Anthozoa), Annals of the South African Museum Volume 99 May 1990 part 4, Cape Town.
Distribution Indo-West Pacific to south western Africa in shallow sublittoral to over 800m depth.
Genera The World Register of Marine Species list the following genera:van Ofwegen, L. (2012). Echinoptilidae. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=196247 on 2013-04-19 Genus Actinoptilum Kükenthal, 1911 Genus Echinoptilum Hubrecht, 1885
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