• Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Cnidaria
  • Class: Anthozoa
  • Subclass: Octocorallia
  • Order: Pennatulacea
  • Suborder: Subsessiliflorae
  • Family: Pennatulidae
  • Scientific name: Pennatula phosphorea
  • Norwegian: vanlig sjøfjær

Characteristics:

The common sea pen can grow to a height of 40 cm. With its deep red color it is easily distinguished from other sea pens. There is a highly developed muscle and neural system in the stem, enabling the colony to "walk" along the bottom in search for a better location.

Habitat:

This is a very common inhabitant on sandy or muddy substrate, on depths ranging from 10 to 100 meters. It is most frequent deeper than 20 meters.

Distribution:

It is widespread in North-East Atlantic Ocean as well as in the Mediterranean.