CONTENTS

Introduction
The South Atlantic Bight
Methods
Octocoral Morphology

Glossary
Gorgonacean Bauplan

List of Species

published version (DeVictor & Morton, Zootaxa 2599)
see this for keys

Occurrence Table

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 cinerea
Bebryce parastellata
Scleracis guadalupensis
Paramuricea
sp.
Leptogorgia hebes
Leptogorgia punicea
Leptogorgia cardinalis
Leptogorgia virgulata
Leptogorgia setacea
Leptogorgia euryale
Viminella barbadensis
Renilla reniformis
Sclerobelemnon theseus
Stylatula elegans
Virgularia presbytes

References Cited

Suggested Reading/Viewing

Acknowledgements

Family Gorgoniidae

Leptogorgia virgulata (Lamarck, 1815)

Gorgonia virgulata Lamarck, 1815:157.

Remarks. Leptogorgia virgulata is one of the most common octocorals in the South Atlantic Bight. Colonies have a distinctive whip-like colony form (hence the common name “sea whip”), moderate branching near the attached base, and can approach a height of one meter. The branches are 2-5 mm in diameter with multiple rows of calyces along the sides, sometimes with a bare strip. Calyces are moderately prominent to completely flush and contain flat rods. The coenenchyme contains short (<0.1 mm), asymmetrical disk spindles and longer (0.15 mm) sculptured spindles. The anthocodial rods are at most half the length of the longest spindles. Colonies may be uniform yellow, orange, purple, white, or various shades in between, with corresponding spicular coloration.
This species is found in shallow reef environments and can tolerate low salinity environments such as tidal creeks and bays. L. virgulata is often colonized by the barnacle Conopea galeata, the Atlantic pearl oyster Pteria colymbus, and the bryozoans Alcyonidium hauffi and Membranipora arborecens.
There are numerous lots of this species in the NMNH from the shallow SAB.

Atlantic distribution: New York, unknown depth; Chesapeake Bay to Florida, Gulf of Mexico, 2-59 m (one record from 220 m); Brazil, unknown depth (Deichmann, 1936; Bayer, 1961; NMNH collections; SERTC collection).

Cortical sclerites of Leptogorgia virgulata (S2713
Figure 5. Cortical sclerites of Leptogorgia virgulata (S2713)(scale bar = 50 µm). Disc spindles and anthocodial rods not shown.

Leptogorgia virgulata in situ, whole colony
Figure 1. Leptogorgia virgulata in situ, whole colony.

Branches and expanded polyps of Leptogorgia virgulata, in situ
Figure 2. Branches and expanded polyps of Leptogorgia virgulata, in situ.

Leptogorgia virgulata, live specimen, with partially expanded polyps
Figure 3. Leptogorgia virgulata, live specimen, with partially expanded polyps. Branch width is approximately 3-4 mm.

Contractile and retractile polyps of Leptogorgia virgulata (live specimen) showing orientation of sclerites in coenchyme
Figure 4. Contractile and retractile polyps of Leptogorgia virgulata (live specimen) showing orientation of sclerites in coenenchyme.

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