Species Hierarchy
Kingdom ANIMAL (ANIMALIA)
Phylum CORALS AND HYDRA (COELENTERATA)
Class CORALS AND ANEMONES (ANTHOZOA)
Order OCTOCORALS (ALCYONACEA)
Family SEA FANS (GORGONIIDAE)
Common name:
Scentific name: GORGONIA SPECIES

Species Info:

This lifeform is found in the eastern Pacific from California to Peru. This lifeform is marine and found only in salt water.

Octocorals (Alcyonacea and related orders) contain various octocorals that have eight tentacles. These typically colonial animals are composed of numerous little animals. The shape of the colony will often help identify the individual species. Various well-known corals in this group are: sea fan, organ pipe coral, dead man's fingers coral, and sea pens. The order Gorgonacea is a further division of this group.

Corals and Anemones (Class Anthozoa) are marine species having about 6,000 members. They are frequently called flower animals. Scientists often call certain groups in this class by different names. The following list serves as an introduction:

      Order Alcyonaria      Corals
      Order Zoantharia      Hexacorals
      Order Actinaria       Sea Anemones
      Order Madreporaria    Stony Corals
      Order Antipatharia    Black Corals
      Order Ceriantharia    Burying Sea Anemones

Corals and Hydra Phylum (Phylum Coelenterata = Cynidaria) are a group of primitive aquatic animals. This phylum contains about 10,000 species. Following are the three main classes:

          Class Hydrozoa:   Polyps and Medusae
          Class Scyphozoa:  Jellyfish
          Class Anthozoa:   Sea Anemones/Corals

Animal Kingdom contains numerous organisms that feed on other animals or plants. Included in the animal kingdom are the lower marine invertebrates such as sponges and corals, the jointed legged animals such as insects and spiders, and the backboned animals such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

 

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