VU

wild Star sea pen

Kophobelemnon stelliferum

Unknown

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The wild Star sea pen faces significant pressure from bottom trawling and dredging activities that physically damage or destroy its soft-bodied colonies anchored in sediment. Climate change-induced ocean acidification threatens to weaken its calcium carbonate skeletal structures, while rising sea temperatures may disrupt its symbiotic relationships with zooxanthellae. Coastal development and sedimentation from terrestrial runoff further degrade the clean sandy and muddy substrates essential for colony establishment.

Threat summary

Habitat

Kophobelemnon stelliferum inhabits soft sediment environments including sandy and muddy bottoms in shallow to moderate depths of continental shelves. These sea pens require stable substrates where their bulbous anchoring base can establish securely while their feathery feeding polyps extend into the water column to capture plankton.

MARINE· major

Threatened in Canada

VU

Lepiota echinella

Unknown
EN

Nymphaea loriana

Declining
EN

Lake Lamprey

Entosphenus macrostoma

Unknown
VU

Paddlefish

Polyodon spathula

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is wild Star sea pen classified as Vulnerable?
wild Star sea pen is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. The wild Star sea pen faces significant pressure from bottom trawling and dredging activities that physically damage or destroy its soft-bodied colonies anchored in sediment. Climate change-induced ocean acidification threatens to weaken its calcium carbonate skeletal structures, while rising sea temperatures may disrupt its symbiotic relationships with zooxanthellae. Coastal development and sedimentation from terrestrial runoff further degrade the clean sandy and muddy substrates essential for colony establishment.
Where does wild Star sea pen live?
wild Star sea pen occurs in Canada, Congo - Kinshasa, Côte d’Ivoire, France, Ghana, and Ireland (plus 15 other countries). Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to wild Star sea pen?
The main threats to wild Star sea pen are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

Get weekly conservation intelligence

One short digest a week of the most striking species and country data we ship, plus breaking conservation news paired with our database where it matters.

Free, no spam. One-click unsubscribe in every email.