CONTENTS
Introduction
The South Atlantic Bight
Methods
Octocoral Morphology
Glossary
Gorgonacean
Bauplan
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 parastellata
Scleracis guadalupensis
Leptogorgia hebes
Leptogorgia punicea
Leptogorgia
cardinalis
Leptogorgia virgulata
Leptogorgia setacea
Leptogorgia euryale
Ellisella barbadensis
Renilla reniformis
Sclerobelemnon
theseus
Stylatula elegans
Virgularia presbytes
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Subclass
OCTOCORALLIA (=ALCYONARIA)
Order Pennatulacea Suborder Subselliflorae Family Virgulariidae Octocorals with a distinct axis and autozooids arranged in leaves. This family is represented by two species, Virgularia presbytes and Stylatula elegans, in the shallow SAB. |
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Key
to the species of Virgulariidae in the shallow (to 200m) South Atlantic
Bight |
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| 1. – Colony stout and rigid, with leaves arranged in overlapping pairs along axis. Sclerites generally absent Virgularia presbytes Bayer, 1955
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– Colony slender and flexible, leaves arranged in pairs distinctly separated along the axis. Sclerites present in the form of large needles, which form fan-like structures beneath the leaves Stylatula elegans (Danielssen, 1860) |
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