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Valdivian soft coral

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Valdivian soft coral
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Octocorallia
Order: Alcyonacea
Family: Parasphaerascleridae
Genus: Parasphaerasclera
Species:
P. valdiviae[1]
Binomial name
Parasphaerasclera valdiviae[1]
(Kukenthal, 1906)
Synonyms
  • Alcyonium valdiviae Kukenthal, 1906

The Valdivian soft coral (Parasphaerasclera valdiviae) is a species of colonial leathery or soft coral in the family Alcyoniidae.[2]

Description

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Valdivian soft corals grow in small colonies of between 1 and 11 cm in height and up to 10 cm in diameter. The colony has stubby branches extending from a conspicuous short thick trunk. The polyps are white, but the colony colour is variable from white to pink to orange or even red. Some colonies may be bi-coloured.[3]

Distribution

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This species is known from the Cape Peninsula to northern KwaZulu-Natal off the South African coast, and is common in 14-18m of water, although it is found down to at least 30m. It is endemic to this area.

Ecology

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Research at Rhodes University has shown that chemicals in this soft coral may have anti-inflammatory properties.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Alcyonium valdiviae Kükenthal, 1906". www.marinespecies.org. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  2. ^ Branch, G.M., Branch, M.L, Griffiths, C.L. and Beckley, L.E. 2010. Two Oceans: a guide to the marine life of southern Africa ISBN 978-1-77007-772-0
  3. ^ a b Jones, Georgina. A field guide to the marine animals of the Cape Peninsula. SURG, Cape Town, 2008. ISBN 978-0-620-41639-9