Coe. 32 Telesto

            Kingdom         - Animalia

            Phylum            - Cnidaria

            Class                - Anthozoa  

            Subclass           - Octocorallia

            Order               - Malacalcyonacea 

            Family             - Tubiporidae

            Genus              - Telesto

 Common Name: Sea fan

Characters:

            Colony consist of simple or branched stem. which arises from a creeping base. Stem is formed by elongation of a single polyp. Stem bears lateral polyps with alternate arrangement and vertical tubes.  Lateral polyps originated by way of solenial networks as in Pennatulacea.

Spicules may be somewhat united by calcareous and horny secretions. The animal bears lateral polyps with alternate arrangements.

Habit and Habitat:

            Telesto is a marine sedentary and colonial Actinozoa.

IUCN status: Least concern