Valdivian soft coral
Valdivian soft coral | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Cnidaria |
Class: | Octocorallia |
Order: | Alcyonacea |
Family: | Parasphaerascleridae |
Genus: | Parasphaerasclera |
Species: | P. valdiviae[1]
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Binomial name | |
Parasphaerasclera valdiviae[1] (Kukenthal, 1906)
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Synonyms | |
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The Valdivian soft coral (Parasphaerasclera valdiviae) is a species of colonial leathery or soft coral in the family Alcyoniidae.[2]
Description[]
Valdivian soft corals grow in small colonies of between 1 and 11 cm in height and up to 10 cm in diameter. The colony has stubby branches extending from a conspicuous short thick trunk. The polyps are white, but the colony colour is variable from white to pink to orange or even red. Some colonies may be bi-coloured.[3]
Distribution[]
This species is known from the Cape Peninsula to northern KwaZulu-Natal off the South African coast, and is common in 14-18m of water, although it is found down to at least 30m. It is endemic to this area.
Ecology[]
Research at Rhodes University has shown that chemicals in this soft coral may have anti-inflammatory properties.[3]
References[]
- ^ http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=212088 accessed 2 February 2017
- ^ 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
- Parasphaerascleridae
- Animals described in 1906
- Octocorallia stubs