WILLIAMS & CHEN: GORGONIANS AND PENNATULACEANS 83 
OF THE VERDE ISLAND PASSAGE 
Genus Viminella Gray, 1870 
Viminella sp. 
Figures 32A, C, 35B 
Material Examined.— CASIZ 103820, Philippines, Luzon, Batangas Province, Maricaban 
Island, Devil’s Rock, 6 m depth, 23 February 1995, coll. G C. Williams, one whole colony wet- 
preserved 75% ethanol; CASIZ 104027, PhiUppines, Luzon, Batangas Province, Maricaban Island, 
Gamao Point, 22 m depth, 27 February 1995, coll. G. C. Williams, one whole colony wet-preserved 
75% ethanol; CASIZ 185478, Philippines, Luzon, Batangas Province, Murals, 31.1 m depth, 13 
May 2011, coll. G. C. Williams, 1 whole colony wet-presei*ved 95% ethanol. 
Remarks. — Sea whips up to two meters tall. Colonies are mostly unbranched, but colonies 
with two or three terminal branches are occasionally encountered. Sclerites are either double heads 
or waisted spindles. Colony color is variable: red, orange, yellow, white, pink, or bicolored. 
Species. — Fifteen species are listed (Appeltans et al. 2013). 
Distribution. — Widespread with a circumglobal distribution: Indo-Pacific, Atlantic, and 
Meditenanean Sea. 
References. — Fabricius et al. (2007:91); Grasshoff and Bargibant (2001:236-240). 
Family Isididae Lamouroux, 1812 
Genus Isis Linneaus, 1758 
Isis hippuris Linnaeus, 1758 
Figures 30B-C, 3 IB 
Material Examined.— CASIZ 192749, Philippines, Sibuyan Sea, Romblon Province, 
Cobrador Island, 21.9 m depth, 20 Feb 2010, coll. G C. Williams, 1 whole colony wet-preserved 
95% ethanol. 
Remarks. — Zooxanthellate coral reef gorgonians, yellow to green or brown in color, with 
alcohol-soluble chlorophyll pigments in wet-preserved material. The axis is conspicuously seg¬ 
mented with alternating dark proteinaceous nodes and white calcareous intemodes. Characteristic 
sclerites are broadly-flarmg clubs without a terminal medial appendage, but with a terminal whorl 
or crown composed of large tuberculated appendages. Living colonies superfic ially resemble those 
of the genus Rumphella as well as some species of Euplexaura.This species is often encountered 
in areas of quiet water such as lagoons that are protected from high energy wave action. 
Species. — Eight species are described, but only one is currently recognized as valid 
(Appeltans et al. 2013). 
Distribution. — Indo-West Pacific: western Indian Ocean to Taiwan and Palau. 
References. — Fabricius et al. (2007:91); Fabricius and Alderslade (2001:248-249). 
Pennatulacea Verrill, 1865 
Family Veretillidae Herklots, 1858 
Genus Veretillum Cuvier, 1798 
Veretillum spp. 
Figure 37 
Material Examined.— CASIZ 186636, Philippines, Luzon, Batangas Province, Calumpan 
Peninsula, Dead Palm South (13.694°N, 120.884°E), 13 May 2011, coll. G C. Williams, one whole 
colony wet-preserved 95% ethanol. 
