| Pennatula | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pennatula phosphorea | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Cnidaria |
| Class: | Anthozoa |
| Order: | Pennatulacea |
| Family: | Pennatulidae |
| Genus: | Pennatula |
| Species [1] | |
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| Synonyms [1] | |
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Pennatula is a genus of sea pens in the family Pennatulidae. The genus contains several bioluminescent species, including Pennatula rubra, Pennatula phosphorea, and Pennatula aculeata. [2] [3]
Bioluminescence is the production and emission of light by a living organism. It is a form of chemiluminescence. Bioluminescence occurs widely in marine vertebrates and invertebrates, as well as in some fungi, microorganisms including some bioluminescent bacteria, and terrestrial arthropods such as fireflies. In some animals, the light is bacteriogenic, produced by symbiotic bacteria such as those from the genus Vibrio; in others, it is autogenic, produced by the animals themselves.
Sea pens are colonial marine cnidarians belonging to the order Pennatulacea. There are 14 families within the order; 35 extant genera, and it is estimated that of 450 described species, around 200 are valid. Sea pens have a cosmopolitan distribution, being found in tropical and temperate waters worldwide, as well as from the intertidal to depths of more than 6100 m. Sea pens are grouped with the octocorals, together with sea whips (gorgonians).
Glowworm or glow-worm is the common name for various groups of insect larvae and adult larviform females that glow through bioluminescence. They include the European common glow-worm and other members of the Lampyridae, but bioluminescence also occurs in the families Elateridae, Phengodidae, and Rhagophthalmidae among beetles; as well as members of the genera Arachnocampa, Keroplatus, and Orfelia among keroplatid fungus gnats.
Mycena is a large genus of small saprotrophic mushrooms that are rarely more than a few centimeters in width. They are characterized by a white spore print, a small conical or bell-shaped cap, and a thin fragile stem. Most are gray or brown, but a few species have brighter colors. Most have a translucent and striate cap, which rarely has an incurved margin. The gills are attached and usually have cystidia. Some species, like Mycena haematopus, exude a latex when the stem is broken, and many species have a chlorine-like odor.
Aulosphaera is a genus of Cercozoa. The genus contains bioluminescent species. It one of two known bioluminescent phaeodarean genera, the other being Tuscaridium. The described bioluminescent species is Aulosphaera triodon Haeckel, 1887.
Gonatus is a genus of squid in the family Gonatidae, comprising twelve species, and therefore containing the most species in the family. Adult squid belonging to species in this genus are notable for their lack of tentacles.
Siphonosphaera is a genus of radiolarians. The genus contains bioluminescent species. It is a genus of colonial radiolarians.
Plocamopherus is a genus of sea slugs, specifically nudibranchs, shell-less marine gastropod molluscs in the family Polyceridae, subfamily Triophinae. A unique character of Plocamopherus species is a globular bioluminescent organ at the tip of the pair of appendages which are placed just behind the gills. Many species are known to be nocturnal and several are from deep water. They feed on bryozoans.
Pennatulidae is a family of sea pens, a member of the subclass Octocorallia in the phylum Cnidaria.
Cavernularia is a genus of marine cnidarians in the family Veretillidae.
Japetella is a genus of pelagic octopods from the subfamily Bolitaeninae in the family Amphitretidae. It contains at least one species but another two have been questionably raised with Japetella heathi being of doubtful validity, although currently accepted and Japetella taningi being classed as a nomen dubium.
Acrosphaera is a radiolarian genus in the Collosphaeridae. The genus contains bioluminescent species. It is a genus of colonial radiolarians.
Collosphaera is a radiolarian genus in the family Collosphaeridae. The genus contains bioluminescent species. It is a genus of colonial radiolarians.
Abyla is a genus of siphonophore in the Abylidae. The genus contains three species, some of which are bioluminescent.
Abylopsis is a siphonophore genus in the Abylidae. The genus contains bioluminescent species.
Stachyptilum is a genus in the family Stachyptilidae. The genus contains bioluminescent species.
Umbellula is a genus of cnidarians in the monotypic family Umbellulidae. The genus contains bioluminescent species.
Veretillum is a genus in the family Veretillidae. The genus contains bioluminescent species.
Sinopyrophorus is a genus of bioluminescent hard-bodied clicking beetles in the superfamily Elateroidea, and is the sole member of the recently recognized family Sinopyrophoridae. The genus currently contains a single species, Sinopyrophorus schimmeli, which was described in 2019 from the subtropical evergreen broadleaf forests of western Yunnan, China.
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