MAREANO / Institute of Marine Research, Norwegen
Info
Anthothela grandiflora is a deep water soft coral that depends on catching plankton for food.
We have posted two differently colored animals, a strong purple and a cream colored animal, and this coloration has left us wondering if both color morphs actually depict the soft coral Anthothela grandiflora.
The purple animal is from the NOAA Photo Library (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and was photographed on 10/24/2014 in the north flank of Nygren Canyon, George Banks, east coast USA. The depth range given was 661 - 910 meters.
The photo of the cream colored coral is from Artsdatabanken, Trontheim, Norway.
The coral has been observed several times in southern Norway.
Our query to one of the best known deep water coralists, Dr. Les Waitling resulted in the following response:
"Aloha Andreas,
The normal color of Anthothela is often described as "peachy cream", i.e. cream with a slight peachy pink tinge. The purple color has not yet been described for Anthothela, but is known for its sister genus Victorgorgia. You have to look at the sclerites to be sure, but we have generally called all purple forms Victorgia. However, I think we may have a purple Anthothela from the North Pacific, but that needs to be verified.
Hope this helps,
All the best from the tropics,
Les"
Les Watling
Professor Emeritus
Department of Biological Sciences
University of Hawaiii
Professor Emeritus
School of Marine Sciences
University of Maine
Synonyms:
Anthothela insignis Verrill
Briareum grandiflorum Sars, 1856
Clavularia bathybius (Saville-Kent, 1870)
Gymnosarca bathybius Saville Kent, 1870
Paragorgia grandiflora (Sars, 1856)
We have posted two differently colored animals, a strong purple and a cream colored animal, and this coloration has left us wondering if both color morphs actually depict the soft coral Anthothela grandiflora.
The purple animal is from the NOAA Photo Library (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and was photographed on 10/24/2014 in the north flank of Nygren Canyon, George Banks, east coast USA. The depth range given was 661 - 910 meters.
The photo of the cream colored coral is from Artsdatabanken, Trontheim, Norway.
The coral has been observed several times in southern Norway.
Our query to one of the best known deep water coralists, Dr. Les Waitling resulted in the following response:
"Aloha Andreas,
The normal color of Anthothela is often described as "peachy cream", i.e. cream with a slight peachy pink tinge. The purple color has not yet been described for Anthothela, but is known for its sister genus Victorgorgia. You have to look at the sclerites to be sure, but we have generally called all purple forms Victorgia. However, I think we may have a purple Anthothela from the North Pacific, but that needs to be verified.
Hope this helps,
All the best from the tropics,
Les"
Les Watling
Professor Emeritus
Department of Biological Sciences
University of Hawaiii
Professor Emeritus
School of Marine Sciences
University of Maine
Synonyms:
Anthothela insignis Verrill
Briareum grandiflorum Sars, 1856
Clavularia bathybius (Saville-Kent, 1870)
Gymnosarca bathybius Saville Kent, 1870
Paragorgia grandiflora (Sars, 1856)
