Slimy sea plume
Pseudopterogorgia americana
(Gmelin, 1791)
Description:
Large colonies, composed of numerous main branches with smaller pinnately arranged branchlets, feather-like plumose; as large as 1 m in height. Branchlets long, slightly flattened, tapered, and 1.5-2.5 mm in diameter. Apertures small and oval, arranged in 2-3 rows on each of the narrow edges of the branches. It produces copious amounts of mucus.
Color:
Commonly purple to violet, occasionally pale yellow.
Habitat:
Inhabit most reef environments, from shallow hard bottoms, patch reefs to deep clear water reeds along drop-offs, down to 45 m.
Distribution:
Common Florida, Bahamas and Caribbean.