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At the moment we have to owe the size of the deep water gorgonian Narella dichotoma, which is found around Hawaiii.
In the first description by Dr. Bayer it is stated that commensal polychaetes or ophiuroids were not found on this species, but as can be clearly seen in the photos from HURL (Hawaiii Undersea Research Laboratory) this is not true in every case.
The commensal brittle star Ophiocreas caudatus Lyman, 1879, formerly Asteroschema caudatum (Lyman, 1879), occurs on this gorgonian.
Narella dichotoma is unique among Hawaiiian species as well as among all species in that it has vertical branching, resulting in a bushy colony.
Synonyms:
Narella nuttingi Bayer, 1997
Stachyodes dichotoma Versluys, 1906
In the first description by Dr. Bayer it is stated that commensal polychaetes or ophiuroids were not found on this species, but as can be clearly seen in the photos from HURL (Hawaiii Undersea Research Laboratory) this is not true in every case.
The commensal brittle star Ophiocreas caudatus Lyman, 1879, formerly Asteroschema caudatum (Lyman, 1879), occurs on this gorgonian.
Narella dichotoma is unique among Hawaiiian species as well as among all species in that it has vertical branching, resulting in a bushy colony.
Synonyms:
Narella nuttingi Bayer, 1997
Stachyodes dichotoma Versluys, 1906