Plexaurella dichotoma

Super Group: 
Eukaryota
Phylum: 
Cnidaria
Class: 
Anthozoa
Order: 
Alcyonacea
Family: 
Plexauridae
Genus: 
Plexaurella
Species: 
dichotoma
Authority: 
(Esper, 1791)
Synonym(s): 
Plexaurella fusifera Kunze, 1916

Diagnosis

Colonies are dichotomously branched and bushy, up to 80 cm in height. The end branches are rigid and blunt, sometimes club-shaped at their ends; 10-15 mm in diameter. Depending on the habitat, the branches may be short and crooked or long and straight. Apertures, 1-1.5 mm in diameter, are usually slightly raised but may also be flush with the surface; narrow and slit like.
Color: Yellowish brown.

Ecology

Habitat: Common on the outer reefs and patch reefs, and to a lesser extent inshore.

Observation site(s)

SYMBIONTS

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Association with... Region origin Name of site In reference...
Symbiodinium- clade C 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