species: Melithaea ochracea cf. in Lizard Island area: all known taxa (Lizard Island Field Guide)
Lizard Island area: all known taxa > Animalia > Cnidaria > Anthozoa > Octocorallia > Malacalcyonacea > Melithaeidae > Melithaea > Melithaea ochracea cf. (gallery)
Melithaea ochracea cf.


©Anne Hoggett: Melithaea sp 1 on the wall at Dynamite Pass (Reef 14-140) near Lizard Island. Extended polyps make the branches appear white.

©Anne Hoggett: Branches of Melithaea sp 1 on the wall at Dynamite Pass (Reef 14-140) near Lizard Island.

©Anne Hoggett: Base of Melithaea sp 1 on the wall at Dynamite Pass (Reef 14-140) near Lizard Island. The crinoid at bottom right is Oligometra serripinna.

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Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Cnidaria
Class Anthozoa
Order Malacalcyonacea
Family Melithaeidae
Genus Melithaea
Species Melithaea ochracea cf.

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Lizard Island Field Guide
Lizard Island area: all known taxa

Colours

                                  

Distinguishing features

Species in the genus Melithaea comprise fan-like colonies that have a segmented axis with swollen nodes and straight, rigid internodes. Branchlets bifurcate and may fuse. Polyps are monomorphic and retractile. Colonies may form fans more than one meter in area. Melithaea species are usually red to pink, but yellow and purple specimens are also found.

Size

  • Size data has not been obtained.

Synonyms

Distribution

Web resources

References

References that assist with identification

  • Fabricius, K. and P. Alderslade (2001). in: Soft corals and sea fans: a comprehensive guide to the tropical shallow water genera of the central-west Pacific, the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville.
  • Rowlett, J. (2020). Indo-Pacific Corals. 807 pp. Joe Rowlett, Chicago, USA. ISBN: 9798686565975. LIRS catalog number 90393.