| Anthomastus giganteus | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Cnidaria |
| Class: | Octocorallia |
| Order: | Alcyonacea |
| Family: | Alcyoniidae |
| Genus: | Anthomastus |
| Species: | A. giganteus |
| Binomial name | |
| Anthomastus giganteus Tixier-Durivault, 1954 | |
Anthomastus giganteus, or the gigantic soft coral, is a deep dwelling species of soft coral from South Africa.
Description
This soft coral is made up of large, fleshy polyps arising from a single long stalk. All the polyps are autozoids, meaning that they are independent and capable of feeding themselves.stalked. The disc-like base is often attached to a hard substance or to debris. The stalk ranges from pink or red to orange and the polyps are a paler beige, white or pinkish colour. Alternatively, the whole organism may be white in colour.
Distribution and habitat
This species is known from the coast of South Africa. It is one of the deepest occurring soft corals and has been found at depths of up to 450 m (1,480 ft).
References
- Atkinson, Lara J; Sink, Kerry J (2018). Field guide to the offshore marine invertebrates of South Africa (PDF). Pretoria: South African Environmental Observation Network. ISBN 978-1-86868-098-6. OCLC 1037159161.
- ^ Leen van Ofwegen (2010). "Anthomastus giganteus". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
| Taxon identifiers | |
|---|---|
| Anthomastus giganteus | |