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Description

The threefeathers are sessile sulphozoans that are almost exclusively autotrophs that resemble a sea pen or the Ediacaran Charnia in shape. With a length of 5 cm, they belong to the largest sulphozoans and predominantly grow in places that are undisturbed and anoxic for extended periods. They are unable to reproduce by breaking and are therefore required to produce spores for reproduction, which are released from in between the units at the central axis. Male gametes are released from the basal units and filtered from the water alongside the nutrients. The spores are very resilient, being able to remain dormant for decades to centuries and capable of being transported by ocean currents. This way, especially the smaller species of threefeathers tend to colonize new anoxic zones.

Description

The threefeathers are sessile sulphozoans that are almost exclusively autotrophs that resemble a sea pen or the Ediacaran Charnia in shape. With a length of 5 cm, they belong to the largest sulphozoans and predominantly grow in places that are undisturbed and anoxic for extended periods. They are unable to reproduce by breaking and are therefore required to produce spores for reproduction, which are released from in between the units at the central axis. Male gametes are released from the basal units and filtered from the water alongside the nutrients. The spores are very resilient, being able to remain dormant for decades to centuries and capable of being transported by ocean currents. This way, especially the smaller species of threefeathers tend to colonize new anoxic zones.