82 
THE CORAL TRIANGLE: HEARST BIODIVERSITY EXPEDITION 
Species. — Only one species is considered valid. 
Distribution. — Eastern Eidian Ocean and western Pacific to New Caledonia. 
References. — Fabricius et al. (2007:91); Grasshoff and Bargibant (2001:232-233). 
Genus Ellisella Gray, 1858 
Ellisella ssp. 
Figures 33, 35 
Material Examined.— CASIZ 185472, Philippines, Luzon, Batangas Province, Calumpan 
Peninsula, Dead Palm dive site (13.69569°N, 120.88472°E), 25 May 2011, coll. G. C. Williams, 
several partial specimens wet-preserved 95% ethanol; CASIZ 095385, Philippines, Luzon, Batan¬ 
gas Province, Maricaban Island, Sepok Point, 26.5 m depth, 14 Mar 1994, coll. G. C. Williams, 1 
whole colony wet-preserved 75% ethanol. 
Remarks. — Colonies under one meter in height. Branching is dichotomous and the end 
branches are often long, slender, and whip-like. Polyps are contractile but not retractile. Polyps 
form numerous mounds or lobe-like projections along the branches. Sclerites are waisted spindles 
and double heads with large rounded knob-like tubercles. Color of colonies mostly red to orange, 
but also can be pink, white, or bicolored. 
Species. — Forty-one species are recognized but actual number of species that are considered 
valid is not known (Appeltans et al. 2013). 
Distribution. — Circumglobal distribution in both tropical and warm temperate waters: Indo- 
West Pacific and Atlantic as well as the Mediterranean Sea. 
References. — Fabricius et al. (2007:91); Fabricius and Alderslade (2001:224-225); Goslin- 
er, Behrens and Williams (1996:55, as Ctenocella, Ellisella), Grasshoff and Bargibant 
(2001:240-255). 
Genus Junceella Valenciennes, 1855 
Junceella fragilis (Ridley, 1884) 
Figures 34, 35C 
Material Examined.— CASIZ 180160, Philippines, Luzon, Batangas Province, Maricaban 
Island, Aphol’s Rock, 23 April 2008, coU. G C. Williams, one whole specimen wet-preserved 75% 
ethanol; CASIZ 103838, Philippines, Mindoro, Medio Island, NW Passage of Puerta Galera, 6-19 
m depth, 28 Feb 1995, coll. G. C. Williams, one whole colony wet-preseiwed 75% ethanol. 
Remarks. — Colonies unbranched, wliiplike, filifonn, and threadlike, or sometimes thicker 
and more robust, up to two meters in height. The polyps of this species contain numerous brown 
cells of zooxanthllae, unlike other species of the genus which apparently are azooxanthellate 
(Williams et al. 2010). Numerous colonies that are in close proximity sometimes form undersea 
clusters or fields of sea whips, appearing like aggregations of garden eels (Fig. 34C). 
Species. — Nine recognized species (Appeltans et al. 2013). 
Distribution. — Widespread Indo-Pacific distribution: the Red Sea and South Africa to 
Micronesia and New Caledonia. 
References. — Fabricius et al. (2007:91); Gosliner, Behrens, and Williams (1996:55); 
Grasshoff and Bargibant (2001:226-231); Williams (1992:251); Williams (1993:57-58); Williams, 
et al. (2010). 
