Eunicea tourneforti

Super Group: 
Eukaryota
Phylum: 
Cnidaria
Class: 
Anthozoa
Order: 
Alcyonacea
Family: 
Plexauridae
Genus: 
Eunicea
Species: 
tourneforti
Authority: 
Milne Edwards & Haime, 1857

Diagnosis

Colony Form: Candelabrum in single plane with long thick branches; may become treelike/bushy with sufficient growth; to ~60 cm tall.
Axis: Elliptical in cross-section.
Branches: Few, separated stiff, sometimes reuniting with each other, compressed in plane of candelabrum; terminal branches <50% colony height, 10-15 mm diameter; candelabrum form generally with few tapering branches.
Apertures: Gaping; spiny lower lip oriented upward, sometimes covering upper lip; space between apertures wider than aperture diameter; lower lips of apertures may be particularly prominent at branch tips.
Mucus: Absent.
Color: Usually dark brown to gray when living; dried specimens can turn lighter.
Sclerites: Polyp armature strong, without collar, of ornate and/or flat rods to 0.25 mm long. Axial layer: spindles with complex ornaments, colorless radiates or pale violet forms. Middle layer: large stout spindles to 2 mm long and 0.38 mm wide (3.5 times longer than wide). Surface layer: many small foliate clubs to 0.15 mm long; larger clubs lack an axial pattern (i.e. handle and head).

Ecology

Habitat: Reefs or hard bottoms, 25-30 m in depth (complete range unknown). Usually in zones of strong water motion.

Observation site(s)

SYMBIONTS

Displaying 1 - 3 of 3
Association with... Region origin Name of site In reference...
Symbiodinium- clade B Quintana Roo Cancun
VAN OPPEN MJH, MIEOG JC, SANCHEZ CA, FABRICIUS KE (2005) Diversity of algal endosymbionts (zooxanthellae) in octocorals: the roles of geography and host relationships. Molecular Ecology 14:2403 - 2417. doi: 10.1111/mec.2005.14.issue-810.1111/j.1365-294X.2005.02545.x
Symbiodinium sp. Quintana Roo
Symbiodinium pulchrorum Quintana Roo