Deep-Sea taxon details
Virgularia mirabilis (Müller, 1776)
128539 (urn:lsid:marinespecies.org:taxname:128539)
accepted
Species
marine, brackish, fresh, terrestrial
(of ) Müller, O.F. (1776). Zoologiae Danicae Prodromus, seu Animalium Daniae et Norvegiae Indigenarum characters, nomina, et synonyma imprimis popularium. [Prodromus of Danish Zoology, or the characters, names, and synonyms of the indigenous animals of Denmark and Norway, especially of the popular ones.]. <em>Typis Hallageriis, Havniae.</em> 32: 1-282., available online at http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/47550
page(s): 255 [details]
page(s): 255 [details]
McFadden, C.S.; Cordeiro, R.; Samimi-Namin, K.; Williams, G.; van Ofwegen, L. (2025). World List of Octocorallia. Virgularia mirabilis (Müller, 1776). Accessed through: Glover, A.G.; Higgs, N.; Horton, T. (2025) World Register of Deep-Sea species (WoRDSS) at: https://marinespecies.org/deepsea/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=128539 on 2026-02-18
Glover, A.G.; Higgs, N.; Horton, T. (2026). World Register of Deep-Sea species (WoRDSS). Virgularia mirabilis (Müller, 1776). Accessed at: https://www.marinespecies.org/DeepSea/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=128539 on 2026-02-18
Date
action
by
original description
(of ) Müller, O.F. (1776). Zoologiae Danicae Prodromus, seu Animalium Daniae et Norvegiae Indigenarum characters, nomina, et synonyma imprimis popularium. [Prodromus of Danish Zoology, or the characters, names, and synonyms of the indigenous animals of Denmark and Norway, especially of the popular ones.]. <em>Typis Hallageriis, Havniae.</em> 32: 1-282., available online at http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/47550
page(s): 255 [details]
context source (Deepsea) Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO. The Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS), available online at http://www.iobis.org/ [details]
context source (Hexacorallia) Fautin, Daphne G. (2013). Hexacorallians of the World. (look up in IMIS) [details]
basis of record Williams, G.C.; van der Land, J. (2001). Octocorallia - Pennatulacea. <em>in: Costello, M.J. et al. (Ed.) (2001). European register of marine species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification.</em> Collection Patrimoines Naturels 50: pp. 105-106. (look up in IMIS) [details]
additional source Williams, G.C. (1992). Biogeography of the octocorallian coelenterate fauna of southern Africa. <em>Biol. J. Linn. Soc.</em> 46: 351-401. [details] Available for editors
additional source Williams G.C. (1995). Living genera of sea pens (Coelenterata: Pennatulacea): illustrated key and synopses. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 113, pp. 93-140., available online at https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1096-3642.1995.tb00929.x
page(s): 125 [details]
additional source Williams, G.C. (1999). Index Pennatulacea: annotated bibliography and indexes of the Sea Pens (Coelenterata: Octocorallia) of the World 1469-1999. <em>Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci.</em> 51(2): 19-103, 1 fig., 14 plates. (look up in IMIS) [details]
additional source Cairns, S.D., and Bayer, F.M., 2009. Octocorallia (Cnidaria) of the Gulf of Mexico, Pp. 321–331 in Felder, D.L. and D.K. Camp (eds.), Gulf of Mexico–Origins, Waters, and Biota. Biodiversity. Texas A&M Press, College Station, Texas. [details]
additional source Kükenthal, W. (1915). Pennatularia. Das Tierreich. 43: 1-132., available online at https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/900948
page(s): 74 [details]
additional source Williams, G.C. (1999). Index Pennatulacea: annotated bibliography and indexes of the Sea Pens (Coelenterata: Octocorallia) of the World 1469-1999. <em>Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences.</em> 51(2): 19-103. (look up in IMIS)
page(s): 46 [details]
additional source Williams, G. C. (1995). Revision of the pennatulacean genus Sarcoptilus (Coelenterata: Octocorallia), with descriptions of three new species from southern Australia. <em>Records of the South Australian Museum.</em> 28(1), 13-32.
page(s): 14 [details]
additional source López-González, P. J.; Gili, J. M.; Williams, G. C. (2001). New records of Pennatulacea (Anthozoa: Octocorallia) from the African Atlantic coast, with description of a new species and a zoogeographic analysis. <em>Scientia Marina.</em> 65(1), 59-74., available online at https://doi.org/10.3989/scimar.2001.65n159
page(s): 60, 63, 64, 71, 72 [details]
additional source Williams, G.C. (1990). The Pennatulacea of southern Africa (Coelenterata, Anthozoa). <em>Annals of the South African Museum. Annale van die Suid-Afrikaanse Museum.</em> 99:31-119., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40684114
page(s): 38, 40, 89, 90, 91, 111 [details]
additional source Bayer, F. M. (1952). New Western Atlantic records of octocorals (Coelenterata: Anthozoa), with descriptions of three new species. <em>Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences.</em> 42(6): 183-189., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/39697529
page(s): 189 [details] Available for editors
additional source Tixier-Durivault, A.; d'Hondt, M-J. (1974). Nouvelles recoltes d'Octocoralliaires a Madagascar. <em>Tethys.</em> 5(2-3): 251-266., available online at http://paleopolis.rediris.es/benthos/REF/som/T-pdf/1973_5-2-251.pdf
page(s): 262 [details]
additional source Thomson, J.A.; Henderson, W.D. (1906). The marine fauna of Zanzibar and British East Africa, from collections made by Cyril Crossland, M.A., B.Sc., F.Z.S., in the years 1901 and 1902 -- Alcyonaria. <em>Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London.</em> 1906, 393-442, plates 26-31., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/32051773
page(s): 395, 436, 437 [details]
additional source Tixier-Durivault, A. (1961). Les Octocoralliaires du Golfe de Guinee et des Iles de Cap-Vert (Alcyonacea, Pennatulacea). <em>Annales de l'Institut oceanographique, Monaco.</em> 39: 237-262.
page(s): 254-257 [details] Available for editors
additional source Deichmann, E. (1936). The Alcyonaria of the western part of the Atlantic Ocean. <em>Memoirs of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard College.</em> 53: 1-317, plates 1-37., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/4363633
page(s): 11, 255, 272, 273-274 [details]
additional source Jungersen, H.F.E. (1904). Pennatulida. <em>The Danish Ingolf-Expedition.</em> 5(1): 1-95, plates 1-3., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/16847516
page(s): 25-33 [details]
additional source Imahara, Y.; Ogawa, K. (2006). Rediscovery of Virgularia juncea (Octocorallia, Pennatulacea) from a tidal marsh in Okinawa, with a short note on its peculiar behavior. Proceedings of the Tenth International Coral Reef Symposium, 9-13
page(s): 12 [details] Available for editors
additional source Thomson, J. A. (1929). Alcyonaires des environs de Monaco et de localités diverses. Bulletin de l'Institut Océanographique (Monaco), (534): 1-10
page(s): 9 [details]
additional source Kükenthal, W.; Broch, H. (1911). Pennatulacea. <em>Wissensch. Ergebn. Deutschen Tiefsee-Expedition "Valdivia".</em> 13(1), 2: i-iv + 113-576, plates 13-29.
page(s): 329-332 [details]
additional source Hayward, P.J. & J.S. Ryland (Eds.). (1990). The marine fauna of the British Isles and North-West Europe: 1. Introduction and protozoans to arthropods. <em>Clarendon Press: Oxford, UK.</em> 627 pp. (look up in IMIS), available online at https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198573562.001.0001 [details] Available for editors
additional source Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). , available online at http://www.itis.gov [details]
page(s): 255 [details]
context source (Deepsea) Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO. The Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS), available online at http://www.iobis.org/ [details]
context source (Hexacorallia) Fautin, Daphne G. (2013). Hexacorallians of the World. (look up in IMIS) [details]
basis of record Williams, G.C.; van der Land, J. (2001). Octocorallia - Pennatulacea. <em>in: Costello, M.J. et al. (Ed.) (2001). European register of marine species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification.</em> Collection Patrimoines Naturels 50: pp. 105-106. (look up in IMIS) [details]
additional source Williams, G.C. (1992). Biogeography of the octocorallian coelenterate fauna of southern Africa. <em>Biol. J. Linn. Soc.</em> 46: 351-401. [details] Available for editors
additional source Williams G.C. (1995). Living genera of sea pens (Coelenterata: Pennatulacea): illustrated key and synopses. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 113, pp. 93-140., available online at https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1096-3642.1995.tb00929.x
page(s): 125 [details]
additional source Williams, G.C. (1999). Index Pennatulacea: annotated bibliography and indexes of the Sea Pens (Coelenterata: Octocorallia) of the World 1469-1999. <em>Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci.</em> 51(2): 19-103, 1 fig., 14 plates. (look up in IMIS) [details]
additional source Cairns, S.D., and Bayer, F.M., 2009. Octocorallia (Cnidaria) of the Gulf of Mexico, Pp. 321–331 in Felder, D.L. and D.K. Camp (eds.), Gulf of Mexico–Origins, Waters, and Biota. Biodiversity. Texas A&M Press, College Station, Texas. [details]
additional source Kükenthal, W. (1915). Pennatularia. Das Tierreich. 43: 1-132., available online at https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/900948
page(s): 74 [details]
additional source Williams, G.C. (1999). Index Pennatulacea: annotated bibliography and indexes of the Sea Pens (Coelenterata: Octocorallia) of the World 1469-1999. <em>Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences.</em> 51(2): 19-103. (look up in IMIS)
page(s): 46 [details]
additional source Williams, G. C. (1995). Revision of the pennatulacean genus Sarcoptilus (Coelenterata: Octocorallia), with descriptions of three new species from southern Australia. <em>Records of the South Australian Museum.</em> 28(1), 13-32.
page(s): 14 [details]
additional source López-González, P. J.; Gili, J. M.; Williams, G. C. (2001). New records of Pennatulacea (Anthozoa: Octocorallia) from the African Atlantic coast, with description of a new species and a zoogeographic analysis. <em>Scientia Marina.</em> 65(1), 59-74., available online at https://doi.org/10.3989/scimar.2001.65n159
page(s): 60, 63, 64, 71, 72 [details]
additional source Williams, G.C. (1990). The Pennatulacea of southern Africa (Coelenterata, Anthozoa). <em>Annals of the South African Museum. Annale van die Suid-Afrikaanse Museum.</em> 99:31-119., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40684114
page(s): 38, 40, 89, 90, 91, 111 [details]
additional source Bayer, F. M. (1952). New Western Atlantic records of octocorals (Coelenterata: Anthozoa), with descriptions of three new species. <em>Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences.</em> 42(6): 183-189., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/39697529
page(s): 189 [details] Available for editors
additional source Tixier-Durivault, A.; d'Hondt, M-J. (1974). Nouvelles recoltes d'Octocoralliaires a Madagascar. <em>Tethys.</em> 5(2-3): 251-266., available online at http://paleopolis.rediris.es/benthos/REF/som/T-pdf/1973_5-2-251.pdf
page(s): 262 [details]
additional source Thomson, J.A.; Henderson, W.D. (1906). The marine fauna of Zanzibar and British East Africa, from collections made by Cyril Crossland, M.A., B.Sc., F.Z.S., in the years 1901 and 1902 -- Alcyonaria. <em>Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London.</em> 1906, 393-442, plates 26-31., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/32051773
page(s): 395, 436, 437 [details]
additional source Tixier-Durivault, A. (1961). Les Octocoralliaires du Golfe de Guinee et des Iles de Cap-Vert (Alcyonacea, Pennatulacea). <em>Annales de l'Institut oceanographique, Monaco.</em> 39: 237-262.
page(s): 254-257 [details] Available for editors
additional source Deichmann, E. (1936). The Alcyonaria of the western part of the Atlantic Ocean. <em>Memoirs of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard College.</em> 53: 1-317, plates 1-37., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/4363633
page(s): 11, 255, 272, 273-274 [details]
additional source Jungersen, H.F.E. (1904). Pennatulida. <em>The Danish Ingolf-Expedition.</em> 5(1): 1-95, plates 1-3., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/16847516
page(s): 25-33 [details]
additional source Imahara, Y.; Ogawa, K. (2006). Rediscovery of Virgularia juncea (Octocorallia, Pennatulacea) from a tidal marsh in Okinawa, with a short note on its peculiar behavior. Proceedings of the Tenth International Coral Reef Symposium, 9-13
page(s): 12 [details] Available for editors
additional source Thomson, J. A. (1929). Alcyonaires des environs de Monaco et de localités diverses. Bulletin de l'Institut Océanographique (Monaco), (534): 1-10
page(s): 9 [details]
additional source Kükenthal, W.; Broch, H. (1911). Pennatulacea. <em>Wissensch. Ergebn. Deutschen Tiefsee-Expedition "Valdivia".</em> 13(1), 2: i-iv + 113-576, plates 13-29.
page(s): 329-332 [details]
additional source Hayward, P.J. & J.S. Ryland (Eds.). (1990). The marine fauna of the British Isles and North-West Europe: 1. Introduction and protozoans to arthropods. <em>Clarendon Press: Oxford, UK.</em> 627 pp. (look up in IMIS), available online at https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198573562.001.0001 [details] Available for editors
additional source Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). , available online at http://www.itis.gov [details]
Present Inaccurate Introduced: alien Containing type locality
Nontype LBM ANT-99, geounit Guinea Bissau Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype SAfM 3746, geounit South African Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype SAfM H3240, geounit South African Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype SAfM H3869, geounit Namibian Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
| Language | Name | |
|---|---|---|
| English | slender sea-penslender sea pensea rushelegant sea pencommon sea pen | [details] |
| French | pennatule magnifique | [details] |
| German | Zauberhafte SeefederSchmale Seefeder | [details] |
BIOTIC
Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland
Marine Life Information Network - UK
To Barcode of Life (12 barcodes)
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (199 publications)
To Dyntaxa
To European Nucleotide Archive, ENA (Virgularia mirabilis)
To GenBank (13 nucleotides; 37 proteins)
To PESI
To USNM Invertebrate Zoology Cnidaria Collection (6 records)
To ITIS
Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland
Marine Life Information Network - UK
To Barcode of Life (12 barcodes)
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (199 publications)
To Dyntaxa
To European Nucleotide Archive, ENA (Virgularia mirabilis)
To GenBank (13 nucleotides; 37 proteins)
To PESI
To USNM Invertebrate Zoology Cnidaria Collection (6 records)
To ITIS
Unreviewed
