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

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

Order Alcyonacea- Couplet 2

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


Scleranthelia rugosa var. rugosa, showing stolons Telesto sanguinea, showing terminal primary polyp
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 spiky, dome-like, flush, or cylindrical, but not long..................3

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

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