WILLIAMS & CHEN: GORGONIANS AND PENNATULACEANS 79 
OF THE VERDE ISLAND PASSAGE 
Genus Echinomuricea Verrill, 1869 
Echinomuricea sp. 
Figures 18 A, 20 
Material Examined.— CASIZ 185452, Philippines, Luzon, Batangas Province, Maricaban 
Island, Devil’s Point; < 29 m depth; 17 May 2011; coll. G. C. Williams; one partial specimen wet- 
preserved 95% ethanol. 
Remarks. — Terminal branches are elongate and curved. Colonies have a rough or coarse sur¬ 
face texture to the touch. 
The calyces contain easily distinguishable sclerites known as thornscales or thomstars. Many 
of these have a broad, root-like base that gives rise to a single, projecting, strong spine that is 
straight and sharply tapered, smooth to slightly toothed on the margins. 
The colonies do not harbor zooxanthellae. Overall color is often dark red or orange, but can 
vary from dark purplish brown to white or yellow; some colonies can also be bicolored. 
Species. — Twenty-seven species are recognized (Appeltans et al. 2013). 
Distribution. — hido-West Pacific: South Africa, Madagascar, Red Sea, hidia, Sri Lanka, 
Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan, Australia, Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea, New Caledonia, and 
Palau. 
References. — Fabricius et al. (2007:91); Grasshoff and Bargibant (2001:178-181); 
Williams (1992:209). 
Genus Euplexaura Verrill, 1869 
Euplexaum sp. 
Figures 21-22 
Material Examined.— CASIZ 109598; Philippines, Luzon, Batangas Province, Ligpo 
Island, north end at wall; 27-29 m depth; 23 April 1997; coll. G. C. Williams; CASIZ 180166, 
Philippines, Luzon, Batangas Piovince, Maricaban Island, Devil’s Point, 15.2m depth, 23 Apr 
2008, coll. G. C. Williams, 2 whole colonies wet-preserved 75% ethanol. 
Remarks. — Colonies grow as fans that branch in one plane. The main branches are relative¬ 
ly thick. The terminal branches are short and rounded to slightly swollen at the ends. The diagnos¬ 
tic sclerites are robust ovoid to elliptical or spheroidal spindles, highly ornamented with large 
knob-shaped tubercles. 
Species. — Thirty-six species are currently recognized (Appeltans et al. 2013). 
Distribution. — Indo-West Pacific: South Africa to the western Pacific. 
References. — Fabricius et al. (2007:91); Grasshoff and Bargibant (2001:158-163); 
Williams (1992:209). 
Genus Menella Gray, 1870 
Menella spp. 
Figures 23-24 
Material Examined. — CASIZ 109578; Philippines, Luzon, Batangas Province, Caban 
Island, Kirby’s Rock; 6-33 m depth; 22 April 1997; coll. G C. Williams, two colonies wet-pre¬ 
served 75% ethanol; CASIZ 180197; Philippines, Luzon, Maricaban Island, Devil’s Point; 24 m 
depth; 19 April 2008; coll. G. C. Williams, one partial colony; CASIZ 185448, Philippines, Luzon; 
Batangas Province, Calumpan Peninsula, Murals; 31m depth; 13 May 2011; coll. G C. Williams, 
one partial colony wet preserved 95% ethanol; CASIZ 187764, Philippines, Luzon, Batangas 
Province, Balayan Bay, Ligpo Island, north of Ligpo Dive Site; depth not recorded; 02 May 2011; 
coll. R. Van Syoc, one partial colony wet-preserved 95% ethanol. 
