Prof. Dr. Charles G. Messing, (†), USA
Info
Very specíal thanks for the first photo of Eunicea clavigera to Prof. Dr. Charles G. Messing, Nova Southeastern University, USA
The Caribbean gorgonian Eunicea clavigera forms candelabra or bushy shapes with a few long, irregular branches, its long branches are between 5 and 15 mm in diameter.
Unlike other gorgonians, this one does not form slime.
The colour of the coral ranges from dark brown to black, the polyps have pale brown tentacles.
Habitat: Semi-exposed reefs with not too strong waves and surf.
Remarks: Eunicea clavigera displays very long polyps, among the largest of the Eunicea species, both branchial thickness and polyp length are highly variable.
Dr. Juan A. Armando Sánchez (2009) found two morphotypes:
A slender form ~20 cm tall with branches up to 12 cm long, often with few, mainly small, club sclerites, larger polyp rods and robust mid-layer sclerites visible at the surface, and a thick form reaching ~40 cm tall with thick branches up to 2 cm in diameter near the base, usually up to 20 cm long.
Imports of the Caribbean gorgonian are not known.
Source: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/octocoral_e_clavigera/
The Caribbean gorgonian Eunicea clavigera forms candelabra or bushy shapes with a few long, irregular branches, its long branches are between 5 and 15 mm in diameter.
Unlike other gorgonians, this one does not form slime.
The colour of the coral ranges from dark brown to black, the polyps have pale brown tentacles.
Habitat: Semi-exposed reefs with not too strong waves and surf.
Remarks: Eunicea clavigera displays very long polyps, among the largest of the Eunicea species, both branchial thickness and polyp length are highly variable.
Dr. Juan A. Armando Sánchez (2009) found two morphotypes:
A slender form ~20 cm tall with branches up to 12 cm long, often with few, mainly small, club sclerites, larger polyp rods and robust mid-layer sclerites visible at the surface, and a thick form reaching ~40 cm tall with thick branches up to 2 cm in diameter near the base, usually up to 20 cm long.
Imports of the Caribbean gorgonian are not known.
Source: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/octocoral_e_clavigera/
