CONTENTS

Introduction
The South Atlantic Bight
Methods
Octocoral Morphology
Glossary
Gorgonacean Bauplan

List of Species

Occurence Table

Key to the Families of Octocorals in the South Atlantic Bight

Key to the Species of
Clavulariidae
Anthothelidae
Plexauridae
Gorgoniidae
Virgulariidae

Notes on the Species
Carijoa riisei
Scleranthelia rugosa
Telesto fruticulosa
Telesto nelleae
Telesto sanguinea
Bellonella rubistella
Pseudodrifa nigra
Nidalia occidentalis
Iciligorgia schrammi
Diodogorgia nodulifera
Titanideum frauenfeldii
Muricea pendula
Thesea nivea
Bebryce grandis
Bebryce parastellata
Scleracis guadalupensis
Placogorgia sp.
Leptogorgia hebes
Leptogorgia punicea
Leptogorgia cardinalis
Leptogorgia virgulata
Leptogorgia setacea
Leptogorgia euryale
Ctenocella (Ellisella) barbadensis
Renilla reniformis
Sclerobelemnon theseus
Stylatula elegans
Virgularia presbytes

References Cited

Suggested Reading/Viewing

Acknowledgements

Family Nidaliidae

Nidalia occidentalis Gray, 1935

Nidalia occidentalis Gray, 1935:60.

Remarks. Nidalia occidentalis is easily distinguishable from other octocorals in the SAB by its barren stalk and clavate head bearing the monomorphic polyps and well-pronounced anthocodia. The stalk bears large (up to 1 mm), slightly curved granulated spindles while the anthocodia contain smaller needle-like rods and small flat platelets. The large spindles are six times longer than wide, a feature which distinguishes N. occidentalis from N. rigida, which bears thicker spindles. In life, one SERTC Nidalia occidentalis specimen had an orange stalk and red terminus bearing white polyps. In the preserved state the colors are slightly duller. The examined specimen is 15 mm in length.

Atlantic distribution: North Carolina to French Guiana, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, 37-440 m (one record off Venezuela indicates collection from 914 m) (Deichmann, 1936; Bayer, 1961; Verseveldt, 1978; NMNH collections; SERTC collection).

 

 

Nidalia occidentalis (live specimen, S1384 )
Figure 1. Nidalia occidentalis (live specimen, S1384 ).

Nidalia occidentalis (S1384) sclerites. a, b) large spindles from capitulum; c, d) small spindles from capitulum; e-f) small platelets from calyx and anthocodia; h-j) needles from polyp
Figure 2. Nidalia occidentalis (S1384) sclerites. a, b) large spindles from capitulum (scale bar = 200 µm); c, d) small spindles from capitulum (scale bar = 100 µm); e-f) small platelets from calyx and anthocodia (scale bar = 20 µm); h-j) needles from polyp (scale bar = 100 µm).

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