[Coral-List] unknown coral

[McCarty and Peters]

Dear Patti,

There is a scleractinian (stony) coral on the Texas coast that matches your
description, although a photo would help.  It is Astrangia poculata
(formerly known as A. astreiformis in the Gulf of Mexico and A. danae in
the Atlantic), reviewed in:

Peters, E.C., S.D. Cairns, M.E.Q. Pilson, J.W. Wells, W.C. Jaap, J.C. Lang,
C.E. (Cummings) Vasleski, and L.S. Gollahon.  1988.  Nomenclature and
biology of Astrangia poculata ( = A. danae, = A. astreiformis) (Cnidaria:
Anthozoa).  Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 101: 234-250.

If you send me a photo, I can verify this for you, or you might find it in
marine organism identification guides.

Dr. Esther Peters

 >> Date:  29-Dec-03 10:17:06  MsgID: MC3-1-632B-DBB6  ToID: 73261,2212
From:  "Patti Nicoll" >INTERNET:pnicoll at smhall.org
Subj:  [Coral-List] unknown coral
Chrg:  $0.00   Imp: Norm   Sens: Std    Receipt: No    Parts: 1

 
I am teacher and I take my class to the coast every year for field work
and a general marine biology experience. There is a small white
calcareous coral, lacking zooxanthellae, found in the intercoastal area
around Port Aransas, Texas. The polyps are about 3-5mm and the skeletons
are very crystalline in appearance growing colonially in a bunched form
on any hard substrate it can find (usally an empty shell). I have always
thought that it was some kind of octocoral but I have never been able to
truly identify it. Do you have any ideas as to what it might be? 

 

Thanks,

Patti Nicoll

 

 

Patricia B Nicoll

Form 7 Biology

Outdoor Education Coordinator

Pre-AP Consultant

Saint Mary's Hall School

9401 Starcrest Drive

San Antonio, TX  78217

210 483 9293

mailto:pnicoll at smhall.org

http://stm10815-01.k12.fsu.edu/ <http://stm10815-01.k12.fsu.edu/> 

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