Sphenopus (cnidarian)

Sphenopus is a genus of sea pens belonging to the phylum Cnidaria, class Anthozoa, and order Pennatulacea. Sea pens are colonial marine cnidarians characterized by a feather-like structure. Sphenopus species are found in deep-sea environments. They are distinguished from other sea pens by specific skeletal and polyp arrangements. Generally, they consist of a fleshy rachis (the main stem) and autozooids (feeding polyps) arising from it. The rachis is supported by an internal axial rod. As with other sea pens, Sphenopus are suspension feeders, capturing plankton and other small organisms from the water column. Further research is needed to fully understand the diversity, distribution, and ecology of the various Sphenopus species. Their classification within the Pennatulacea has undergone revisions based on morphological and molecular data.