Umbellula encrinus
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| Umbellula encrinus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Cnidaria |
| Subphylum: | Anthozoa |
| Class: | Octocorallia |
| Order: | Scleralcyonacea |
| Family: | Umbellulidae |
| Genus: | Umbellula |
| Species: | U. encrinus |
| Binomial name | |
| Umbellula encrinus (Linnaeus, 1758) | |
Umbellula encrinus is a species of deep-water sea pen described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758,[1] and is part of the cnidarian genus Umbellula.
Commonly found in the deep ocean of the eastern Canadian Arctic, this species of sea pen is often caught as bycatch when fishing. Colonies of this species, similar to most Umbellula, have a strong muscular peduncle to anchor themselves in soft substrate, and can reach heights of >2 m. The peduncle is followed by an elongated, thin stalk, with a distal crown of polyps. The organism is supported by an internal, calcified skeleton.[2] U. encrinus has a long lifespan, which is similar to other octocorals of approximately 70 years.[3] Age is determined by analyzing the number of rings inside the organism's skeleton.[2]
Distribution
Umbellula encrinus has been primarily found in the eastern Canadian Arctic. Colonies are particularly dense in Baffin Bay, in between Canada and Greenland. Some have also been reported in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge near the Canadian province of Newfoundland, in Norwegian waters, and the Barents Sea.[2]
Lancaster Sound in Baffin Bay was found to be a particularly populated area for U. encrinus. The high rate of primary productivity in this area suggests that U. encrinus thrives in areas where there is a significant energy source, however growth is mainly intrinsically motivated.[2]
U. encrinus has been recorded on both dominantly soft and dominantly hard bottom environments.[4]