Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory (HURL), Hawaii, USA
Info
The largest known colony of the deep water gorgonian Calyptrophora alpha was 54cm high and 28cm wide, with polyps ranging from 2.2cm - 2.4cm long.
Calyptrophora alpha is unique in that it has flattened basal spines that are bent forward.
Otherwise, it most closely resembles the coral Calyptrophora gerdae Bayer, 2001, which lives in the western Atlantic Ocean.
Crustaceans are regularly present on this coral.
Etymology: The species name comes from the Greek letter "Alpha".
Distribution: Endemic off Laysan and a seamount southeast of Necker Island, Hawaiii.
Calyptrophora alpha is unique in that it has flattened basal spines that are bent forward.
Otherwise, it most closely resembles the coral Calyptrophora gerdae Bayer, 2001, which lives in the western Atlantic Ocean.
Crustaceans are regularly present on this coral.
Etymology: The species name comes from the Greek letter "Alpha".
Distribution: Endemic off Laysan and a seamount southeast of Necker Island, Hawaiii.
