The nippled sea fan Eunicella microthela (Lamouroux, 1816) previously known by the junior synonym Eunicella papillosa (Esper, 1797), is a species of gorgonian sea fan in the family Gorgoniidae.[2]
| Nippled sea fan | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Cnidaria |
| Class: | Octocorallia |
| Order: | Alcyonacea |
| Family: | Gorgoniidae |
| Genus: | Eunicella |
| Species: | E. papillosa
|
| Binomial name | |
| Eunicella papillosa (Esper, 1797)[1]
| |
Description edit
This fan is short and pale cream to orange in colour. It grows upright or in bushy masses, with irregular or frequent branches coming off the main basal stem. The branches are covered on all sides with many small bumps from which the polyps extend. It may grow up to 18 cm tall and have branches of 0.2 to 0.4 cm wide.[3]
Distribution edit
This sea fan is found only around the southern African coast from Lüderitz to Sodwana Bay in 1–360 m of water.
Ecology edit
This sea fan usually grows in areas sheltered from strong current. It is preyed upon by the whip fan nudibranch, which strongly resembles the feeding fan.[4]
References edit
- ^ "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Eunicella papillosa (Esper, 1797)". marinespecies.org. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
- ^ McFadden, C.S.; Cordeiro, R.; Williams, G.; van Ofwegen, L. (2023). World List of Octocorallia. Eunicella papillosa (Esper, 1797). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=213056 on 2023-10-05
- ^ 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
- ^ Jones, Georgina. A field guide to the marine animals of the Cape Peninsula. SURG, Cape Town, 2008. ISBN 978-0-620-41639-9
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