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Urticina felina (Tealia felina) (Linnaeus, 1761)(photos of Dirk Schories, Germany: specimens from Helgoland, Germany) |
 
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Urticina felina is the best defined and well known species of Urticina. It is common in northern European seas but not occurs in Pacific. Urticina coriacea is a synonym (invalid name) of Urticina felina. Although several authors recorded "Urticina coriacea" in Pacific, Pacific specimens belong to another distinct (and yet unnamed) species.
The species is characterized by burrowing habit, often crowding into crevices. The column (body) densely covered with strongly adhesive veruccae to which gravel, broken shell, and other particles adhere (see the photo below). The colour is variable, but the colour pattern is more or less typical and can be easily recognized on living specimens. Other European species of Urticina include Urticina eques and Urticina crassicornis (the latter species occurs also in North Pacific).
Recent revision of Pacific species of Urticina:
SANAMYAN N.P., SANAMYAN K.E., 2006. The genera Urticina and Cribrinopsis (Anthozoa: Actiniaria) from the North-Western Pacific. Journal of Natural History, 40(7-8): 359-393.
Taxonomic position:
Phylum: Cnidaria Class: Anthozoa Subclass: Hexacorallia Superorder: Hexactiniida Order: Actiniaria Suborder: Nynantheae (Thenaria : Endomyaria) Family: ActiniidaeSpecies: Urticina felina (Linnaeus, 1761)Species list of sea anemones: |
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