Key to the Families of Shallow Water (0-200m) Octocorals of the South Atlantic Bight

Order Gorgonacea- Couplet 2

2a. – Encrusting colonies, or branching colonies with a terminal primary polyp and budded lateral daughter polyps arising from stolons that are sheet-like, ribbon-like, or reticulating. Long, cylindrical calyces with retractable polyps
.............................................Family Clavulariidae

left: Scleranthelia rugosa var. rugosa, showing stolons; right: Telesto sanguinea, showing terminal primary polyp

2b. – Colonies not encrusting; possessing a shared, fleshy coenenchyme and/or a membranous or fleshy stalk or base. Colonies without a primary or terminal polyp from which all daughters arise. Calyces may be spiky, dome-like, flush, or cylindrical, but not long........................................3

top left: Pseudodrifa nigra, showing fleshy stalk and base; top right: Thesea nivea, showing domelike calyces; bottom: Leptogorgia hebes, showing lack of primary polyps