Protoptilidae Kölliker, 1872

Risaro, Jessica & Abstract, Daniel Lauretta, 2023, Sea Pens (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Pennatuloidea) From The Mar Del Plata Submarine Canyon And Outskirts, Zootaxa 5389 (4), pp. 401-433 : 412-413

Family Protoptilidae Kölliker, 1872

Diagnosis (from Williams 1990): Long, narrow and bilateral colonies. Autozooids grow on two or three rows at the dorsal side of the rachis. Retractile autozooids. Calyces with two or three teeth in its edge, formed by needle-like sclerites. Sclerites present in all tissues, mainly needle-shaped or three-flanged spindles. Internal axis all along the colony.

Included genera: Protoptilum Kölliker, 1872 and Distichoptilum Verrill, 1882 “b”.

Type genera: Protoptilum .

Distribution: Cosmopolitan (North and South Atlantic, North and South Pacific and Indian Oceans). Between 800 – 4200 m depth (Williams 2011).

Distichoptilum Verrill, 1882 “b”

Type species: Distichoptilum gracile Verrill, 1882 “b” (monotypic)

Diagnosis (from Williams 1990): Narrow colonies. Spiral shape when fixed. Internal axis presents through the entire colony. Autozooids grow in two alternated rows along the rachis with bilobated calyces (with two teeth in its edge). Siphonozooids generally in groups of three polyps at the base of the autozooids, one in the front and one in each side of the autozooid. With sclerites all along the colony.

Distribution: Same as the family.