Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory (HURL), Hawaii, USA
Info
Narella vermifera is a deep-water gorgonian known only from the Northwestern Hawaiiian Islands (Emperor Seamounts: Kökö Guyot, Ni'ihau, KoKo and Kaʻula).
The largest colony studied reached 17 cm in height and 19 cm in width.
All colonies have continuous worm tubes; the polychaete is probably an undescribed species of the genus Gorgoniapolynoe (Polynoidae).
Similar species: Narella vermifera most resembles Narella biannulata (Kinoshita, 1907).
Etymology: The species name "vermifera" (Latin , means worm-bearer) and is a reference to the polychetes found in this species.
The largest colony studied reached 17 cm in height and 19 cm in width.
All colonies have continuous worm tubes; the polychaete is probably an undescribed species of the genus Gorgoniapolynoe (Polynoidae).
Similar species: Narella vermifera most resembles Narella biannulata (Kinoshita, 1907).
Etymology: The species name "vermifera" (Latin , means worm-bearer) and is a reference to the polychetes found in this species.
