Tall Sea Pen
Funiculina quadrangularis
Habitat: Muddy sea floor
Depth: From 20m
Food: Plankton, detritus
Length: Up to 2m tall
Lifespan: Unknown
Conservation Status: Near Threatened (NT) Evaluated 2023
Related to sea anemones and corals, the Sea Pen is actually a colony of individuals living together. The central stem is rounded at the base and buries in the muddy sediment to anchor the colony firmly on the sea bed. Individual polyps sit directly on the stem and each polyp spreads out tiny tentacles to catch food. This species of sea pen can grow up to 2m tall! Macduff is the only aquarium in the UK that displays these animals.