136 



CCELENTEEATA 



GORGONIA L. Colony arborescent, often fan-shaped, the branches 

 being in the same plane and often anastomosing so as to form a network ; 



polyps retractile: numerous species. 



G. flabellum L. Sea fan (Fig. 221). 

 Colony a network with meshes 2 to 6 mm. 

 wide, yellowish or reddish in color and up to 

 50 cm. high and wide: South Atlantic and 

 West Indies, in shallow water. 



G. acerosa Pallas. Colony dendritic, 

 with long, slender branches, the smaller 

 branches being arranged pinnately, up to 80 

 cm. high, straw-colored: West Indies, in shal- 

 low water. 



Gorgonia flaftellum 

 (Hargitt). 



FAMILY 3. PLEXAUKIDAE. 

 Fig. 221 



Colony branched and erect, with the 

 polyps scattered over entire surface; axis 

 horn-like or horn-like and calcareous; coenenchym thick; polyps rather 

 large and projecting: 10 genera. 



1. EUNICE A Lamouroux (Fig. 222). Colony arborescent; trunks 

 cylindrical; polyp edges bilobed or crenate; 

 axis horn-like: numerous species. 



Fig. 222 Eunicea. A, (Hargitt) entire colony; B, (Chester) cross section showing 

 polyps. 1, expanded polyp ; 2, longitudinal section of polyp ; 3, con- 

 tracted polyp ; 4, central axis ; 5, entodermal canal. 



