75 
WILLIAMS & CHEN: GORGONIANS AND PENNATULACEANS 
OF THE VERDE ISLAND PASSAGE 
served 75% ethanol; CASIZ 103904, Philippines, Luzon, Batangas Province, Maricaban Island, 
Devil’s Point, 36.6 m depth, 24 Feb 1995, coll. G. C. Williams, 1 whole colony wet-preserved 75% 
ethanol. 
Remarks. — In this species that is frequently found on coral reefs of the Batangas region, 
branching is in one plane. The terminal parts of the branches are spatulate and fistulose, whereas 
the main stem and basal parts of the branches are mostly solid. 
The exterior surface of the colonies is usually red-orange to red-brown, while the colony inte¬ 
rior is pure white. 
Species. — Eleven species are recognized (Appeltans et al. 2013). 
Distribution. — Indo-West Pacific (East Afi*ica, Persian Gulf, Madagascar, Maldives, Tai¬ 
wan, Philippines, Indonesia, New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Northwestern Australia, Great Barri¬ 
er Reef, Palau). 
References. — Fabricius et al. (2007:91); Fabricius and Alderslade (2001); Gosliner, 
Behrens, and Williams (1996:50, as Semperina); Grasshoff and Bargibant (2001:106-109). 
Family Subergorgiidae Gray, 1859 
Genus Annella Gray, 1858 
Annelid reticulata (Ellis and Solander, 1786) and Annella mollis (Nutting, 1910) 
Figures 7-8 
Material Examined. — CASIZ 185458; Philippines, Luzon Island: Batangas Province, 
Murals (GPS coordinates 13.69927°N, 120.8824°E); <31 m depth; 13 May 2011; coll. G. C. 
Williams; one whole colony wet-preserved 95% ethanol. 
Remarks. — Species in the genus Annella are unlike other Indo-Pacific gorgonians in that the 
colonies have a net-like appearance — they are conspicuously reticulated due to numerous anasto¬ 
mosing branches. 
At least two species of a pygmy sea horse (family Syngnathidae), which are generally < 20 
mm in height, are known to inhabit the branches of two genera of gorgonians found in the Coral 
Triangle — Hippocampus denise Lourie and Randall, 2003, has been encountered on Annella mol¬ 
lis and A. reticulata, while H. hargihanti is associated with Muricella spp. (family Acanthogorgi- 
idae) (Reijnen et al. 2011:5). 
Species. — Two species of Annella, A. mollis and A. reticulata, are known to occur in the 
Philippines — A. reticulata has finer, more gracile branches, larger closed cells or spaces between 
the surrounding branches, and colonies usually less than 0.3 m in height. Annella mollis, on the 
other hand, has thicker, more robust, branches, narrower spaces between the surrounding branch¬ 
es, and colonies up to 1.5 m tall (Figs. 7A and 7B). 
Distribution. — The genus has an Indo-West Pacific distribution — East Africa to the East¬ 
ern Indian Ocean (Keeling Island); Western and Central Pacific (Okinawa, Great Barrier Reef, 
Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, Palau, Marshall Islands). 
References. — Fabricius et al. (2007:91); Gosliner, Behrens, and Williams (1996:51, as 
Subergorgia mollis)', Grasshoff and Bargibant (2001:72-79); Appeltans et al. (2013). 
Genus Subergorgia Gray, 1857 
Subergorgia suberosa (Pallas, 1766) 
Figures 5A, 5B, 9 
Material Examined.— CASIZ 104074, Philippines, Luzon, Batangas Province, Maricaban 
