ALCYONARIA 



Alcyonaria are nearly all colonial organisms and are found 

 in skeleton formations more or less mineralized : completely 

 rigid {Corallium, Tubipora), semi-rigid {Gorgonia) and fleshy 

 [Alcyonum, Pennatula, etc.) This last group bears a strong 

 resemblance to the vegetable kingdom both in form and 

 colour, especially the order of the Alcyonacea. These are very 

 common in depths of three feet, alongside the rocks of the 

 islands, and in the shade of the shelf eaten away by the sea. 

 Their wonderful ramifications, varying from delicate pink to 

 dark red in colour, wave gently in the breeze of the current. 

 Gorgonians are found in the same environment, while 

 tubipors live in deeper waters. Tubipors are often found 

 thrown up on to the beach by the sea. These are the Tubipora 

 musica, red calcareous masses shorn of their dead and 

 decomposed polyps. 



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