Gorgonian coral ID - more tricky

The name of this gorgonian is also alluding me. I am guessing at a species of Ellisella (not the common whippy one) - but I am totally useless at coral ID, especially softcorals.

This was photographed in West Papua.

Alex

Any thoughts on this one?

Alex

Alex, can you post a crop of the polyps?

Thanks for taking a look, William. Here is the best I can do with the polyps - both of these are crops from a fisheye shot.

Alex

how about Menella sp. , possibly praelonga but i would just go with sp.

Sorry I can't help Alex but I'm pretty much useless when it comes to cnidarians. Just not enough room in the brain I guess.....

Alex, order a copy of Soft Corals and Sea Fans by Fabricius and Alderslade. It is available from Aust. Isnt of Marine Science website. It's a great little book. If I remember I'll look it up at work tomorrow...

Cheers,

Wyatt

Sorry Alex, I cant find a good ID for your coral. I dont have much when it comes to soft coral ID books.....

I finally remembered... well its either Menella or Ellisella :-) Oh so helpful. Alex, did you touch the gorgonian? A major difference between the two, aside from sclerite form, appears to be contractile and retractile polyps. Menella only has contractile polyps, while Ellisella is completely retractile... the polyps completely retract into the branches. So if you touched it... or have another photo of polyps withdrawn then we'd know. As for getting an exact species... I think you would of had to of taken a sample :-)

Cheers,

Thanks Wyatt.

I didn't touch it, but I will have a scan around the full rez image to see if there are any branches with retracted polyps.

Alex

i feel so proud now with my Menella guess...

I have had a good look and the polyps are out everywhere. There is one small bit (hidden at the back behind other branches) where the polyps may be retracted, but it is hardly clear enough to be sure.

I am more tempted with Ellisella sp. just so Mike can't be right!

Alex

Ahh, good eye. Yeh I'd call that retractile for sure!!! Ellisella!

damn you Wyatt...

I haven't got to that caption yet, but when I do I will have to work in some private joke about Veitch... Hmmm... Let me think....

Alex