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The deep-water gorgonian grew on a rocky bottom with a water temperature of 3.6°C and a salinity of 35.8 ppt.
That animal forms a slender colony, its polyps have a bud-like shape and are arranged at an acute angle towards the branch end.
Particularly impressive are the four spiral coils at the tip of the slender style, which is about 28 cm long; each of the spiral coils is about 13 -15 cm high and 3 - 4 cm in diameter.
The animal shown in the photo had a height of 93cm, the measurement of the height was made with the help of laser points.
De central axis reaches just 3 mm in diameter at the base and shows a yellow metallic luster (see English name "Golden Gorgonian").
The branches of the gorgonian are arranged along one side, about 3 - 5 mm apart.
The shortest branch at the tip is 5.4 cm, the longest up to 23.8 cm long with 37 counted polyps.
Polyps are spaced about 3-7 mm apart in height, and 3 - 4 mm apart in width at the base.
Etymology:
The species name "densispicula§ is a compound of the Latin adjective "densus" for (dense) and the Latin noun "spicula" (spicules), referring to the
densely arranged spines, a distinctive feature of the species.
That animal forms a slender colony, its polyps have a bud-like shape and are arranged at an acute angle towards the branch end.
Particularly impressive are the four spiral coils at the tip of the slender style, which is about 28 cm long; each of the spiral coils is about 13 -15 cm high and 3 - 4 cm in diameter.
The animal shown in the photo had a height of 93cm, the measurement of the height was made with the help of laser points.
De central axis reaches just 3 mm in diameter at the base and shows a yellow metallic luster (see English name "Golden Gorgonian").
The branches of the gorgonian are arranged along one side, about 3 - 5 mm apart.
The shortest branch at the tip is 5.4 cm, the longest up to 23.8 cm long with 37 counted polyps.
Polyps are spaced about 3-7 mm apart in height, and 3 - 4 mm apart in width at the base.
Etymology:
The species name "densispicula§ is a compound of the Latin adjective "densus" for (dense) and the Latin noun "spicula" (spicules), referring to the
densely arranged spines, a distinctive feature of the species.
