Anthothelidae, Broch, 1916

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 : 20

Key to species of Anthothelidae in the South Atlantic Bight

1. Branches fistulose ( Figure 19a ). Polyps arranged along edges of flattened branches. Medullar sclerites comprised of long, slender, unbranched needles ( Figure 19b ) ............................................ Iciligorgia schrammi Duchassaing 1870

- Branches not fistulose. Polyps scattered on all sides of branches. Medullar sclerites comprised of branching rods, spindles, capstans, tuberculated spheroids, not needles .............................................................................................. 2

2. Branches with projecting calyces or low polyp mounds, sometimes of a color contrasting with the surrounding coenenchyme. Cortex containing capstans, tuberculated branched bodies, tuberculated spheroids and spindles in outer region, and spindles in inner region ................. Diodogorgia nodulifera (Hargitt, in Hargitt and Rogers, 1901)

- Coenenchyme flush, with no calyces or polyp mounds. Cortex containing only short capstans and tuberculated branched bodies and spheroids, no spindles ................................................. Titanideum frauenfeldii ( Kölliker, 1865)

Figures

FIGURE 19. Iciligorgia schrammi; a) fistulose branch, tip indicated; b) needles