smellslikefish
Member
This is the second time I put pics of this up and no one could ID it. Let see if anyone can with better pics.
Second time trying to ID
- Thread starter smellslikefish
- Start date
T
tizzo
Guest
I used to have an encrusting gorgonia, looks like that. Is the mat pink and shiny when the polyps retract?
smellslikefish
Member
Hmm I dont think its ever shiney. This stuff is showing up all over my tank.
T
tizzo
Guest
Erythropodium caribaeorum, Encrusting Gorgonian. Form encrusting mats that look hairy when polyps are extended, smooth, light colored, like leather when retracted.
T
tizzo
Guest
If my ID is correct, then whatever it comes in contact with it will kill and over grow. I had a patch in my tank and when I researched it, I learned that nothing can kill it and it can kill everything, so I had to get rid of an 18 lb rock to get it out of my tank. Course, I didn't know how to frag back then either.
Do you have the corals book by borneman?
Do you have the corals book by borneman?
smellslikefish
Member
I don't have the corals book. Thanks for the info, I'm going to see if you're right and if you are I'll start removing the stuff.
spanko
Active Member
http://www.robertosozzani.it/Utila/gorgon.html
Quote from
Sweeper Tentacles in a Gorgonian Octocoral:
Morphological Modifications for
Interference Competition
KENNETH P. SEBENS AND JULIA S. MILES
Northeastern University, Marine Science Center, Nahant, Massachusetts 01908
The encrusting gorgonian Erythropodium caribaeorum
Pallas (Octocorallia: Gorgonacea) is abundant on shal
low reefs in the Caribbean, and competes for space with
numerous coral species, sea anemones, and other cnid
arians. Zones ofcontact between this gorgonian and sev
eral coral species were observed and recent damage to
the coral colonies was noted. Furthermore, the gorgo
nian develops fields of modified polyps along such bor
ders. These polyps have elongate tentacles termed
‘¿sweetpeenrtacles,' as in scleractinian corals. Such tenta
des lack the side branches (pinnules) characteristic of oc
tocorals in general, and bear a bulbous tip (acrosphere)
densely packed with nematocysts. Transplant experi
ments showed damage to corals placed in contact with
the gorgonian's sweeper tentacles and sweeper tentacles
were induced when scleractinian corals contacted Ery
thropodium colony borders having exclusively normal
tentacles. Thus, sweeper tentacles may contribute to the
competitive success of this species in habitats where
space is limiting and where there are a number of
competing species, many with agonistic mechanisms of
their own.
Quote from
Sweeper Tentacles in a Gorgonian Octocoral:
Morphological Modifications for
Interference Competition
KENNETH P. SEBENS AND JULIA S. MILES
Northeastern University, Marine Science Center, Nahant, Massachusetts 01908
The encrusting gorgonian Erythropodium caribaeorum
Pallas (Octocorallia: Gorgonacea) is abundant on shal
low reefs in the Caribbean, and competes for space with
numerous coral species, sea anemones, and other cnid
arians. Zones ofcontact between this gorgonian and sev
eral coral species were observed and recent damage to
the coral colonies was noted. Furthermore, the gorgo
nian develops fields of modified polyps along such bor
ders. These polyps have elongate tentacles termed
‘¿sweetpeenrtacles,' as in scleractinian corals. Such tenta
des lack the side branches (pinnules) characteristic of oc
tocorals in general, and bear a bulbous tip (acrosphere)
densely packed with nematocysts. Transplant experi
ments showed damage to corals placed in contact with
the gorgonian's sweeper tentacles and sweeper tentacles
were induced when scleractinian corals contacted Ery
thropodium colony borders having exclusively normal
tentacles. Thus, sweeper tentacles may contribute to the
competitive success of this species in habitats where
space is limiting and where there are a number of
competing species, many with agonistic mechanisms of
their own.