NOAA-USGS-Deep Sea Systems International
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Horn corals of the genus Nicella belong to the family Ellisellidae, gorgonian-like octocorals.
The colonies of Nicella americana examined are uniplanar and large, up to 60 cm high and 55 cm wide, and as in N. goreaui, the fan is slightly curved away from the current.
The largest basal main branch was 8 mm in diameter.
Branching begins and paersists very close to the base of the colony.
Most colonies are intense to bright orange, the calyxes are usually slightly lighter orange, but not white.
Similar species: Nicella americana, Nicella deichmannae, and Nicella ramosa.
An examination of the sclerites of the type specimens of Nicella americana and Nicellaa ramosa using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) showed no significant differences.
Synonym: Nicella ramosa Toeplitz in Kükenthal, 1919
The colonies of Nicella americana examined are uniplanar and large, up to 60 cm high and 55 cm wide, and as in N. goreaui, the fan is slightly curved away from the current.
The largest basal main branch was 8 mm in diameter.
Branching begins and paersists very close to the base of the colony.
Most colonies are intense to bright orange, the calyxes are usually slightly lighter orange, but not white.
Similar species: Nicella americana, Nicella deichmannae, and Nicella ramosa.
An examination of the sclerites of the type specimens of Nicella americana and Nicellaa ramosa using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) showed no significant differences.
Synonym: Nicella ramosa Toeplitz in Kükenthal, 1919
