Iciligorgia schrammi

Iciligorgia schrammi

Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Cnidaria
Class:	Anthozoa
Subclass:	Octocorallia
Order:	Alcyonacea
Suborder:	Scleraxonia
Family:	Anthothelidae
Genus:	Iciligorgia
Species:	I. schrammi
Binomial name
*Iciligorgia schrammi* Duchassaing, 1870^[1]

Iciligorgia schrammi, common names deepwater sea fan and black sea fan^[2]^[3] is a species of gorgonian sea fan in the family Anthothelidae.^[1] It is found in tropical parts of the Atlantic Ocean. This species was first described in 1870 by the French naturalist Édouard Placide Duchassaing de Fontbressin.

Description

Iciligorgia schrammi is the largest of the sea fans and large specimens are much bigger than gorgonians. It is dichotomously branched in a single plane with the branches much further apart than other sea fans, giving it a ragged appearance. However, small specimens do not give this impression. The main branches are somewhat flattened and are 3 to 5 millimetres (0.12 to 0.20 in) in width. The polyps protrude from the edges of the branches. Their calyces are dome-shaped and have eight separate lobes. The polyps are stiffened with sclerites, which are curved spindles and rods which are arranged as a collar with pointed projections. The colour of this sea fan is usually light brown to bright red. Several brittle stars were associated with it in this habitat.^[4]^[5]

Distribution

In the Atlantic Ocean, this species is found from south Florida southwards to Brazil, and in the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.^[4] A single specimen was found in the South Atlantic Bight in Georgia in 2007 which is a northward extension to its range.^[4]

Habitat

Iciligorgia schrammi normally grows at depths from 3 to 368 metres. It lives on vertical walls, standing out perpendicularly, and can also grow in deep water where the water is clear and the current high on slope breaks.^[6]

Postage stamp

An illustration of this species appears on a 2005 Aruban 100 cent postage stamp.^[7]

References

1 2 "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Iciligorgia schrammi Duchassaing, 1870". Marinespecies.org. Retrieved 2011-12-27.
↑ "ITIS Standard Report Page: Iciligorgia schrammi". Itis.gov. Retrieved 2011-12-27.
↑ "Iciligorgia schrammi (Deep-Water Sea Fan)". Zipcodezoo.com. Retrieved 2011-12-27.
1 2 3 "Shallow Octocorals of the SAB - Iciligorgia schrammi". Dnr.sc.gov. Retrieved 2011-12-27.
↑ "Iciligorgia schrammi (Duchassaing 1870)". Coralpedia. University of Warwick. Retrieved 2015-08-15.
↑ "NOAA CoRIS - Navassa Island: Marine Biota". Coris.noaa.gov. 2010-11-24. Retrieved 2011-12-27.
↑ "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species". Marinespecies.org. 2011-11-01. Retrieved 2011-12-27.

External links

Wikispecies has information related to: Alcyonacea

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alcyonaria.

Corals and coral reefs

Stony corals	Scleractinia Blue coral Brain coral Elkhorn coral Hermatypic coral Chalice coral Pillar coral Staghorn coral Table coral

Soft corals	Alcyonacea Black coral Bamboo coral Organ pipe coral Sea fans Sea pens

Coral reefs	Atoll reef Cay Fringing reef Microatoll Coral reef fish Census of Coral Reefs The Structure and Distribution of Coral Reefs Catlin Seaview Survey

Coral regions	List of reefs Deep-water coral African coral reefs Andros, Bahamas Belize Barrier Reef Coral Sea Islands Coral Triangle Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Great Barrier Reef Maldives Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System New Caledonia Barrier Reef Pulley Ridge Raja Ampat Islands Red Sea Southeast Asian coral reefs

Coral diseases	Coral bleaching Black band disease Skeletal eroding band White band disease White pox disease

Protection	Coral Reef Alliance Coral reef protection Green Fins International Society for Reef Studies Project AWARE Reef Check Reef Ball

Other	Artificial reef Aquaculture of coral Coral dermatitis Precious coral Coral rag Coral reef organizations Coral sand Coralline alga Environmental issues with coral reefs Fire coral Reef resilience Rugosa (extinct) Symbiodinium Tabulata

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