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 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
| Subclass
OCTOCORALLIA (=ALCYONARIA) Order GORGONACEA Suborder Scleraxonia Octocorals with a medulla composed of free or inseparably fused sclerites. Family Anthothelidae This family contains octocorals with a spiculated medulla and a ring of longitudinal boundary canals separating the medulla from cortex. The family and suborder are represented by three species in the SAB, Iciligorgia schrammi, Diodogorgia nodulifera and Titanideum frauenfeldii. Titanideum frauenfeldii is the most common of the three. There are only two records of D. nodulifera in the SAB, and the present work is the first record of Iciligorgia schrammi occurring north of Florida. |
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Key to species of Anthothelidae in the shallow
(to 200m) South Atlantic Bight |
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1a. – Tips of branches fistulose. Polyps arranged along sides of flattened branches. Medullar sclerites comprised of long, slender, unbranched needles Iciligorgia schrammi Duchassaing 1870 |
1b. – Tips of branches not fistulose. Polyps scattered on all sides of branches. Medullar sclerites comprised of branching rods or spindles, not needles..............2
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