Remarks. Fragments of the only two samples of this species recorded in the SAB were examined for this work, as well as a sample from a colony (USNM 49705) south of the SAB for comparison because of the variance in colony morphology. The southern colony has the most common form and could conceivably be found in the SAB. The southern colony sample is yellow with red, moderately protruding calyces and the cylindrical stem is approximately 5 mm in diameter. A ring of boundary canals divides the cortex and medulla, and the cortex has a dense outer layer and spongy inner layer. The outer cortex and calyces contain small radiates and slender, warty amber spindles. Also present are elongated, sparsely warted spindles. The neck of the polyps contain small, red radiates. The medulla contains light pink warted rods that are occasionally branched.
One sample from the SAB is an unbranched fragment that is entirely red and less robust than the yellow (southern) specimen; this specimen appears to comply to some degree with Deichmann’s description of Diodogorgia ceratosa (1936). The tip is slightly inflated and the cylindrical calyces protrude much more than the southern specimen. The coenenchyme completely surrounds a hollow tube similar to the description in Deichmann (1936), suggesting an encrusting nature around a worm tube. The cortical spindles are more robust than those in the southern specimen, and a few long, bent, coarsely warted spindles are present. The medulla contains branched, warted rods similar to those in the southern specimen, as well as spindles. It is noted that the small portion of material available for study limited sclerite examination.

Atlantic distribution: Georgia to Surinam, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, 20-183 m (Deichmann, 1936; Bayer, 1959; Bayer, 1961; NMNH collections; SERTC collection)

Figure 1. Diodogorgia nodulifera, preserved specimen (S2698)(scale bar = 1 cm).

Figure 2. Diodogorgia nodulifera, preserved specimen (branch of USNM 49705).

Figure 3. Sclerites of Diodogorgia nodulifera (S2698). a,b) rods of medulla; c) spindle of cortex; d-f) radiates of cortex. Scale bar for a-c = 50 µm; d-f = 10 µm.