Cauliflower soft coral
From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia
| Cauliflower soft coral | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Cauliflower soft coral | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Cnidaria |
| Class: | Octocorallia |
| Order: | Alcyonacea |
| Family: | Nephtheidae |
| Genus: | Eunephthya |
| Species: | E. t. [1] |
| Binomial name | |
| Eunephthya thyrsoidea [1] Verrill, 1869 | |
The cauliflower soft coral (Eunephthya thyrsoidea) is a species of colonial soft coral in the family Nephtheidae.[2]
Description[edit]
Cauliflower soft corals grow in colonies of up to 30 centimeters in height. The polyps are 0.2 cm in diameter. It grows as a large whitish colony with side branches ending in bunches of grey- or brown-tinged polyps.[3]
Distribution[edit]
This species is known from the Cape Peninsula to northern KwaZulu-Natal off the South African coast, and Port Stephens in New South Wales and lives from 10 to 240m under water.
Ecology[edit]
This species is often found on vertical rockfaces and when not feeding it contracts tightly, and its resemblance to a cauliflower is striking. It is fed upon by the walking anemone, Preactis millardae.[3]
References[edit]
- ^ "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Eunephthya thyrsoidea (Verrill, 1865)". marinespecies.org. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
- ^ Branch, G.M., Branch, M.L, Griffiths, C.L. and Beckley, L.E. 2010. Two Oceans: a guide to the marine life of southern Africa ISBN 978-1-77007-772-0
- ^ a b Jones, Georgina. A field guide to the marine animals of the Cape Peninsula. SURG, Cape Town, 2008. ISBN 978-0-620-41639-9