Eunicea calyculata

Super Group: 
Eukaryota
Phylum: 
Cnidaria
Class: 
Anthozoa
Order: 
Alcyonacea
Family: 
Plexauridae
Genus: 
Eunicea
Species: 
calyculata
Authority: 
(Ellis & Solander, 1786)
Synonym(s): 
Eunicea calyculata f. calyculata (Ellis & Solander, 1786)
Eunicea calyculata f. coronata Bayer, 1961
Eunicea calyculata f. gordoni Stiasny, 1935
Gorgonia calyculata Ellis & Solander, 1786

Diagnosis

Colony Form: Bushy with tangled branches arising along much of colony, not just near base; to 1.8 m high; the only Eunicea species that does not exhibit a candelabrum pattern. Dichotomous branching in all directions.
Axis: Cylindrical in cross-section.
Branches: Ascending branches thick, flexible, cylindrical, long, usually 6.0-20 mm in diameter. Thinner at greatest depths.
Apertures: Regularly placed; calyx either present or not. Calices may be flat, conical, or mound-like (not tubular) and project with ridges on inner aperture lip. Aperture borders may be only projecting or appear sealed or gaping. Lower rim does not form an obvious lip-like structure as other Euniceas.
Mucus: Absent.
Color: Color varies from reddish ochre to beige to dark ochre.
Sclerites: Polyp armature a wide collar with numerous rod sclerites about 0.1–0.5 mm long. Axial layer: pale violet spindles to 0.25 mm long, with a few but notable ornamens. Middle layer: transparent spindles 0.6–2 mm long, sometimes curved and widened in middle. Surface layer: Small and enlarged clubs with multiple and radial rows in the handle ending in a sharp head, to 0.12 mm. Also, torch clubs with one row of ornaments in the handle.

Observation site(s)

SYMBIONTS

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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