Warty Eunicea
Eunicea calyculata
(Ellis & Solander, 1786)
Description:
Colony tall, up to 1 m in height and about half as broad; dichotomously branching, not in a single plane. End branches long, up to 17 cm, cylindrical, stout, 8-16 mm in diameter, and uniform in diameter throughout. Calices are low and gaping and occur on small mounds.
Color:
Extended polyps give the colony a yellowish brown appearance.
Habitat:
Inhabit most reef environments, from 3 to 32 m, but more abundant inshore.
Distribution:
Common Florida, Bahamas and Caribbean.
Remarks:
E. calyculata is distinguished from all other species of Eunicea by having long, stout branches and a colony not shaped like a candelabrum.