Virgulariidae, Verrill, 1868

Devictor, Susan T. & Morton, Steve L., 2010, Identification guide to the shallow water (0 - 200 m) octocorals of the South Atlantic Bight 2599, Zootaxa 2599 (1), pp. 1-62 : 24

Key to species of Virgulariidae in the South Atlantic Bight

1. Colony stout and rigid, with leaves arranged in overlapping pairs along axis. Sclerites generally absent .................... .................................................................................................................................. Virgularia presbytes Bayer, 1955

- Colony slender and flexible, leaves arranged in offset pairs distinctly separated along the axis. Sclerites in form of large needles, forming fan-like structures beneath leaves .................................. Stylatula elegans ( Danielssen, 1860)