Leptogorgia

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 : 22

Key to species of genus Leptogorgia in the South Atlantic Bight

1. Colony unbranched ( Figure 22a ) or moderately branched near base ( Figure 22b ); attached or unattached ............... 2

- Colony irregularly pinnately branched ( Figure 23a,b ), branched in one plane or shrubby; always attached ............ 4

2. Colony moderately branched close to attached base ...................................... Leptogorgia virgulata ( Lamarck, 1815)

- Colony unbranched or with small branchlets arising from main axis, may be unattached ......................................... 3

3. Colony diameter> 2 mm. Color white, yellow or purple with purple apertures. Polyp mounds absent or slightly dome-like ............................................................................................................... Leptogorgia setacea ( Pallas, 1766)

- Colony extremely slender (0.5 mm–1.5 mm exclusive of polyp mounds), with dome-like polyp mounds................... ................................................................................................................................ Leptogorgia euryale ( Bayer, 1952)

4. Colony branches stout,> 2 mm in diameter exclusive of polyp mounds. Sclerites of coenenchyme containing blunt capstans ................................................................................................................... Leptogorgia hebes ( Verrill, 1869)

- Colony branches thin (<1.5 mm) exclusive of polyp mounds. Many spindles acute and not blunt ........................... 5

5. Colony irregularly pinnate, with short branches curving upward. Dome-like polyp mounds in double series along terminal twigs........................................................................... Leptogorgia punicea ( Milne Edwards & Haime 1857)

- Colony regularly pinnate, branches long and only slightly curving, if at all. Polyp mounds in single series along terminal twigs, moderately to prominently protruding ............................................. Leptogorgia cardinalis Bayer, 1961

Figures

FIGURE 22. a) Unbranched colony of Leptogorgia setacea (attached to vacant bivalve shell); b) Leptogorgia virgulata

FIGURE 23. Branching colonies of a) Leptogorgia hebes; b) Leptogorgia cardinalis