Dr. Karine Marangon
Info
This gorgonian is fan-shaped and has a finely branched tree structure with numerous anastomoses. It usually grows on a single plane. The branches are dichotomous and nodular. The coenenchyma, the skin covering the skeleton, is variably yellow to orange in color, with the polyps being white. The polyps consist of 8 pinnate tentacles, they are evenly distributed over the entire surface of the gorgonian.
Reproduction: Probably gonochoric. Colonies are male or female. Male and female gametes are released into open water. Fertilization is external. The swimming larvae (planulae) are planktonic for a short time, they will attach to the substrate and develop into polyps. They then begin to excrete gorgonin, forming the skeleton. Further growth of the colony then occurs through budding of the polyps.
Habitat: on channels, reef slopes with turbid water environment.
The color of the coral ranges from yellow to orange.
Reproduction: Probably gonochoric. Colonies are male or female. Male and female gametes are released into open water. Fertilization is external. The swimming larvae (planulae) are planktonic for a short time, they will attach to the substrate and develop into polyps. They then begin to excrete gorgonin, forming the skeleton. Further growth of the colony then occurs through budding of the polyps.
Habitat: on channels, reef slopes with turbid water environment.
The color of the coral ranges from yellow to orange.
