Description

Description. Branching colonies probably larger than 200 mm in height, according to Stiasny’s photographs (1937: plate IV). Terminal branches 3 – 7.5 mm in diameter (Stiasny 1937). White to beige cortex. All sclerites colourless. Surface of the cortex with radiate sclerites (mostly 8 ­ radiates) with star­like sub­radial ornamentation (Fig. 42 A – E). Surface sclerites up to 0.07 mm long averaging 0.064 (0.007 SD, n = 10) (Fig. 42 A – D). Surface radiates about 1.64 times longer than wider, averaging 0.039 mm in width (0.003 SD, n = 10). Other intermediate forms between radiate and spindle present in the boundary layer (Fig. 42 E). Medulla with smooth, barely ornate (most of ornamentation at tips) straight spindles usually less than 0.3 mm in length (Fig. 42 F). Morphological variation. The holotype specimen, the only known record of the species, presents slightly different types of sclerites at both the cortex and medulla. The subradiate ornaments vary from somewhat acute star­like tips (e. g., Fig. 42 A – B) to smooth and blunt (Fig. 42 C – D). Medulla spindles are progressively less ornate towards the inner medulla.

Common Names

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Cnidaria

Class: Anthozoa

Order: Scleralcyonacea

Family: Coralliidae

Genus: Sibogagorgia

Species: Sibogagorgia weberi Stiasny, 1937