Plexaurella nutans

Super Group: 
Eukaryota
Phylum: 
Cnidaria
Class: 
Anthozoa
Order: 
Alcyonacea
Family: 
Plexauridae
Genus: 
Plexaurella
Species: 
nutans
Authority: 
(Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1860)

Diagnosis

Common Name(s):Giant slit-pore sea rod, Nodding plexaurella
Colony Form:Colonies usually tall with few long branches in multiple planes; to 1.5 m tall.
Axis:Extensively mineralized by calcite, up to 85% mineral aggregate at branch tips; aggregates up to 5 mm in length and embedded longitudinally in the gorgonin (Lewis et al. 1992).
Branches:Sparse, dichotomous; terminal branches 10-15 mm across and up to 1 m long; tips usually somewhat enlarged or bulbous.
Apertures:Distinctly slit-shaped apertures; calices form widely separated hemispherical mounds.
Mucus:None.
Color:Tan, light brown to mauve; putty-gray or light brown in alcohol.
Sclerites:Polyp armature: strong; blunt rods to 0.3 mm long. Axial layer: spindles, crosses and capstans, the latter often with two longer rays, 0.15-0.25 mm long. Middle layer: large, slender spindles, triradiates, 4-radiates, to 0.45 mm across. Surface layer: capstans usually with two longer rays, 0.075-0.2 mm across.

Ecology

Habitat:Inshore patch reefs to outer slope and fore reefs, from 4 to >30 m depth.

Observation site(s)

SYMBIONTS

Displaying 1 - 6 of 6
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
Symbiodinium sp. Western Caribbean
Symbiodinium sp.
Symbiodinium sp. Quintana Roo
Symbiodinium pulchrorum Quintana Roo
Symbiodinium pulchrorum Exuma Islands