Orange spiny sea rod
Muricea elongata
Lamouroux, 1821
Description:
Colonies are tall and bushy, up to 50 cm in height; not branched in a single plane. The branching in the lower part of the colony is lateral, but toward the top of the colony branching tends to become pinnately. End branches are long and measure 4-5 mm in diameter. Apertures are very closely set and extend prominently with sharply spiked lower lips.
Color:
Branches yellow to yellowish brown, orange or amber. Polyps white.
Habitat:
Inhabit a wide range of shallow to moderately deep environments; from sandy bottoms to sloping rocky substrates and patch reefs.
Distribution:
Common to occasional Florida, Bahamas and Caribbean.