Black Sea Rod

[lancer99]

Black sea rod (Plexaura homomalla) has always been my favorite Caribbean gorgonian, but I've never seen it listed for sale anywhere.

 

Luckily Ken from sealifeinc.net volunteered to collect one for me, as well as for someone else whom you may know:

 

 

 

I also got this beautiful Pterogorgia citrina from Ken...it's lost a bit of tissue, but as of last night, the polyps are sneaking out, so I'm optimistic:

 

 

Both:

 

Cheers,

-R

[gastone]

Looks great Robert. I'm waiting for Ken to get some more captive bred pearly jawfish.

 

G.

[tbittner]

Those are spectacular!

[lancer99]

thx tbittner & garrett.

 

I forgot to mention that Ken included a little bonus with my order...the Merman's Shaving Brush that you can see in the last pic.

 

What a great little lagniappe!

 

-R

[mogurnda]

Luckily Ken from sealifeinc.net volunteered to collect one for me, as well as for someone else whom you may know:

Sounds so mysterious

 

I have been meaning to post pix of mine, but am running ragged between here and Philly for the moment. It is looking great, and polyps look like they are fully extended now. I can't believe I finally have one of these! Thanks, Robert!

[lancer99]

Sounds so mysterious

 

Yeah, that was a tough one

 

Ken said he likes my pics (*pats self on back* ) and may consider listing the black sea rod on his site.

 

Looking forward to your pics, Dave!

 

-R

[Origami]

Kind of reminds me of my Caribbean gorgonian. I believe it's Plexaurella sp. (Corky Sea Fingers). I gave a frag of this to dschflier back in March.

Edited April 27, 2008 by Origami2547

[lancer99]

That's a beauty Origami...thx for the pic!

 

-R

[Origami]

Going back over the ID, I think I've decided that it's Plexaurella sp. Both Plexaurella and Eunicia sp. have darker polyps and can be somewhat knobby, according to Sprung's Quick Reference Guide. It's hard to get a close up view of the retracted polyp to see if it has the "slit-pore" characteristics of Plexaurella but the growth pattern (branching Y) and the allowance for rounder pores point more to Plexaurella.

 

I hope that yours enjoys its new surroundings as much as mine seems to enjoy its home.

[mogurnda]

FInally shot a few last night. Thought it would be worth scraping the coralline off the glass first, and the gorgs haven't completely re-extended after the disturbance.

 

The colony. You might be able to see where there was a little tissue recession after shipping.

 

Polyp detail.

 

Origami, that's a nice looking coral. It looks a bit like my Eunicea. I'd be interested to see the retracted calyces. Then again, the real purists would want to see the sclerites (yawn).

[Origami]

Thanks, Dave. I think I'm going 'round and 'round on the ID. I'll post a pic tonight after forcing the polyps to retract. It does look like Eunicea but I didn't think the calyces looked to be as knobby as Eunicea when the polyps were fully retracted. In fact, when fully retracted, they look rather smooth (comparerd to what Sprung shows). I looked for the characteristic slit-pores of Plexaurella but didn't really think I had them. Sprung, however, leaves some latitude in the ID here claiming that some have round pores more like Eunicea. I kind of wish that I remembered what the cortex looked like after lopping off a lobed branch for dschflier about 2 months ago. That could have told me more, I think. Should you get a chance, take some pix of yours as well and we can compare.

[mogurnda]

Thanks, Dave. I think I'm going 'round and 'round on the ID. I'll post a pic tonight after forcing the polyps to retract. It does look like Eunicea but I didn't think the calyces looked to be as knobby as Eunicea when the polyps were fully retracted. In fact, when fully retracted, they look rather smooth (comparerd to what Sprung shows). I looked for the characteristic slit-pores of Plexaurella but didn't really think I had them. Sprung, however, leaves some latitude in the ID here claiming that some have round pores more like Eunicea. I kind of wish that I remembered what the cortex looked like after lopping off a lobed branch for dschflier about 2 months ago. That could have told me more, I think. Should you get a chance, take some pix of yours as well and we can compare.

I've got extended/retracted photos of both Eunicea and Pseudoplexaura (based on squinting for a long time at Sprung & Delbeek and Human & Deloach). Not likely to have time tonight or tomorrow, but will try to get them up by the end of the week.

[Origami]

Here you go, Dave. The polyps can retract further under some situations leaving little visible but you should get enough from this close-up, I hope. Tell me what you think.

 

Sprung claims that, "Eunicea species usually have characteristic knobby projections for calyces that afford an Acropora-like appearance when the polysp are closed." But, he adds, "There are many species with strongly projecting calyces, such as E. laxispica, and some with relatively smooth branches, such as E. knighti." All of his pictures show forms with calyces that strongly project outward giving a pretty rough appearance (unlike mine in this photo).

 

However, in the same reference, regarding Plexaurella, he writes: "They are light brown brown, almost yellow, with darker brown polyps. Small colonies are often shaped like a "Y", while large colonies are often bushy. Most Plexaurella spp. have crescent shaped pores when the polyps are closed, though some have round pores like the similar-looking Pseudoplexaura spp." In that same reference, Sprung shows a picture of the pores on one Plexaurella showing some slightly projecting calyces, and some others showing a rather smooth form.

Edited April 28, 2008 by Origami2547

[mogurnda]

That looks just like what I call Eunicea. Not spiny, but certainly bumpy.

 

 

 

 

Here's the suspected Pseudoplexaura for comparison.

 

[Origami]

Certainly, I don't think it's Pseudoplexaura. Could be Eunicea but could also be Plexaurella (different than either Plexaura or Pseudoplexaura). It would seem that the definitive answer would come from the presence of purple sclerites. If it has them, it's definitely Eunicea. If not, it could still be either since "nearly colourless" sclerites can still be present in Eunicea, though Sprung seems to imply that the colorless sclerites may belong to the species Muricea, which have a "distinctively prickly texture" (which ours do not have).

 

You know, I'm struck by the color of your top picture. Recall Sprung's quote (above) that says, "They are light brown, almost yellow..." when describing Plexaurella. Interesting, huh?

Edited April 29, 2008 by Origami2547

[lancer99]

Wow Dave, your homomalla looks great...and black (unlike mine, but I hope that's just my poor photography skills)! When you mentioned "tissue loss" I started to worry.

 

I find gorg ID often very difficult, and with all due respect, I'm not sure I'd trust either Sprung, or Fossa & Nilsen...they seem to have all copied from the same notebook. If only John Tullock would write a guide.

 

The pics are great....I'll see if I can find anything similar in my Caribbean guides. Not sure if that will help, but...I'm pretty happy that y'all are worrying about gorgonian identification, since most people don't appreciate them at all!

 

 

 

Cheers,

-R

[mogurnda]

Thanks for the compliments. The tissue recession worried me, and I was happy it stopped within the first 24 hours.

 

I find gorg ID often very difficult, and with all due respect, I'm not sure I'd trust either Sprung, or Fossa & Nilsen

That's why I found Human and Deloach useful. Still not certain, but it's my best guess.

[Origami]

Here's another picture of mine this morning - caught while it was "sleeping." The pic better displays the texture of the gorgonian when the polyps are fully retracted. The next time I trim this guy, though, I'm going to make a point of looking for purple sclerites to assist in a positive ID.

Edited May 1, 2008 by Origami2547

[mogurnda]

Maybe those of us who like flexible, brown corals should have a gorgonian swap/ID party. I have a dissecting scope and a very nice deck, and I will officially stop traveling in mid-May.

[gastone]

Maybe those of us who like flexible, brown corals should have a gorgonian swap/ID party. I have a dissecting scope and a very nice deck, and I will officially stop traveling in mid-May.

 

 

So, a gathering of two people is a party?

 

 

I've got your cloves btw. Are you going to be at the tank tour or the social this weekend?

 

Garrett.

[mogurnda]

So, a gathering of two people is a party?

 

 

Twice as big as most parties I go to.

 

 

I've got your cloves btw. Are you going to be at the tank tour or the social this weekend?

 

Garrett.

I hadn't been planning to, with the spouse in town and me leaving again Sunday night. Will PM if I can fit it in.

[Origami]

Maybe those of us who like flexible, brown corals should have a gorgonian swap/ID party. I have a dissecting scope and a very nice deck, and I will officially stop traveling in mid-May.

 

I could do that. I'm traveling next week and have a week of travel in about a month, but could squeeze something in.

[lancer99]

So, a gathering of two people is a party?

 

Should I consider than an official dis-invitation?

 

I can't for the life of me find my Caribbean ID books...I think they are still in boxes. Hey, it's only been 10 months since I moved, can't expect me to have everything unpacked!

 

Good news, my Pterogorgia citrina is starting to regrow tissue where it had lost some.

 

-R

[mogurnda]

Should I consider than an official dis-invitation?

Ignore him, he's an idiot. Anyway, if there is interest, I am thinking about something in early June, but am flexible.

 

I can't for the life of me find my Caribbean ID books...I think they are still in boxes. Hey, it's only been 10 months since I moved, can't expect me to have everything unpacked!

We still have at least one left over from the last move 7 years ago. This should be good motivation for you to start digging!

 

Good news, my Pterogorgia citrina is starting to regrow tissue where it had lost some.

Yaay! SOme of the gaps on my Homomalla have filled in, and it seems to be looking happier every day. They can be quite tough, if you don't kill them outright.

[Origami]

Ignore him, he's an idiot. Anyway, if there is interest, I am thinking about something in early June, but am flexible.

He's probably just jealous and feeling a little left out....

 

I'll probably be out that first full week of June and will have family and a graduation (my son's) to attend the following week. The last full week of May works for me as well as mid- to late-June.