wildsingapore homepage wildfactsheets homepage wild shores of singapore blog

Spiky sea pen Scytalium sp.* Family Virgulariidae updated Nov 11 Where seen? This plain white sea pen with spiky 'leaves' is often seen on many of our Northern shores. On soft silty shores. When exposed at low tide, it often retracts into the ground with only a few spiky fronds peeping out. Features: 10-15cm long. Short, fat, sausage-like primary polyp usually white without brown blotches. Broad (4-5cm) leaf-like structures with stout, widely-spaced ribs that end as long spikes on the edges. Tiny secondary polyps emerge from the edges of the leaf-like structures.

Beting Bronok, Aug 06

The central stalk is unpatterned, usually white or beige. The foot may be orange or beige. Pen Pals: The tiny Painted porcelain crab (Porcellanella picta) is often found in pairs in this sea pen. Washed up sea pens sometimes seen with colourful brittle stars and other brittle stars.

Painted porcelain crabs are often found in pairs in this sea pen. Beting Bronok, Aug 05

Tiny secondary polyps.

Changi, Oct 11

Big brittle star and many porcelain crabs.

Tiny coloutful brittle stars.

Beting Bronok, May 11

East Coast, Jun 06

Tiny coloutful brittle star.

Beting Bronok, Jun 06

more photos of spiky sea pens on Singapore shores
part 1 | part 2 | part 3