Range:
Commonly found off the North Florida Atlantic coast with deep
dwelling specimens reported from the Dry Tortugas and the eastern
Caribbean. The White Eye Sea Spray typically colonizes rocky
outcroppings and hard bottom areas and can be found at depths
ranging from 75 to 1,200 ft (23-366 m).
Similar Species: Pinnate Spiny Sea Fan, Muricea pendula,
Red Polyp Octocoral, Swiftia exserta, and Carmine Sea Spray,
Leptogorgia miniata, occur in similar habitat as the White Eye Sea
Spray and are similar in coloration. However, M. pendula and L.
miniata have translucent white polyps while the red polyps of
Swiftia exserta occur in a paired fashion and in fewer number than
is exhibited by the White Eye Sea Spray.
Identification: White Eye Sea Spray colonies are
laterally branched and generally grow in a single plane that can
appear somewhat bushy as the colony becomes larger. Its branches are
yellow-brown to reddish brown to grayish red. Polyps are bright red
to pink and often display white centers.
Note: White sea sprays often experience multiple abnormal
outgrowths of tissue, called galls, caused by the inhabitance of
other invertebrates, such as the Spionid worm, Polydora sp.), and
the crab Pilumnus floridanus, within the coral tissue.
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