''Siphonogorgia godeffroyi'', the cherry blossom coral or Godeffroy's Soft Coral, is a
species
A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...
of
soft coral
Alcyonacea is the old scientific order name for the informal group known as "soft corals". It is now an unaccepted name for class Octocorallia. It became deprecated .
The following text should be considered a historical, outdated way of treatin ...
in the
family
Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...
Nidaliidae. It is native to the central Indo-Pacific region. Its range includes Indonesia, the Philippines and Papua New Guinea. This species was first described in 1874 by the Swiss biologist
Albert von Kölliker
Albert von Kölliker (born Rudolf Albert Kölliker'';'' 6 July 1817 – 2 November 1905) was a Swiss anatomist, physiologist, and histologist.
Biography
Albert Kölliker was born in Zürich, Switzerland. His early education was carried on in Z ...
.
Description
''Siphonogorgia godeffroyi'' is an arborescent coral with red or pink bare branches. The
polyps are white and star-like and are concentrated on the tips of small branches. This species feeds on plankton. It is found at depths between and grows on both rocky and coral reefs, on rock ledges, on reef slopes and under overhangs.
References
Nidaliidae
Animals described in 1874
{{Octocorallia-stub