Leptogorgia miniata

(Carmine sea spray)

Size

Colony height: 7-15cm (3-6") Colony width: 8-15cm (4-6")

Recognition Characters

Small openly pinnate branching colonies. Commonly branches in a single plane, but can be somewhat bushy. Low, blunt calyces in single rows along the two edges of outer branches; thicker branches have double rows.

Color

Branches are orange-red to red to reddish-purple; polyps are translucent white.

Habitat & Depth

Attach to areas of hard bottom mixed with sand to 30m.

Distribution at GRNMS

Rare. Grows on the top of ledges.

Geographic Range

Georgia, Florida, isolated parts of Caribbean

Behavior & Notes

Synonyms

References

Humann 1992b