''Iciligorgia schrammi'', common names deepwater sea fan and black sea fan is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

of gorgonian sea fan in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Anthothelidae Anthothelidae is a family (biology), family of corals, a member of the phylum Cnidaria. Genera Genera in this family include: * ''Alertigorgia'' Kükenthal, 1908 * ''Anthothela'' Verrill, 1879 * ''Briareopsis'' Bayer, 1993 * ''Erythropodium'' K� ...

. It is found in tropical parts of the Atlantic Ocean. This species was first described in 1870 by the French naturalist

Édouard Placide Duchassaing de Fontbressin Édouard Placide Duchassaing de Fontbressin (1819 in Moule, Guadeloupe – 1873 in Périgueux) was a French naturalist. He is noted for his work in botany and spongiology. A native of Guadeloupe, he studied zoology, geology and medicine in ...

Description

''Iciligorgia schrammi'' is the largest of the sea fans and large specimens are much bigger than gorgonians. It is dichotomously branched in a single plane with the branches much further apart than other sea fans, giving it a ragged appearance. However, small specimens do not give this impression. The main branches are somewhat flattened and are in width. The polyps protrude from the edges of the branches. Their calyces are dome-shaped and have eight separate lobes. The polyps are stiffened with

sclerite A sclerite (Greek , ', meaning "hard") is a hardened body part. In various branches of biology the term is applied to various structures, but not as a rule to vertebrate anatomical features such as bones and teeth. Instead it refers most commonly ...

s, which are curved spindles and rods which are arranged as a collar with pointed projections. The colour of this sea fan is usually light brown to bright red. Several

brittle star Brittle stars, serpent stars, or ophiuroids (; ; referring to the serpent-like arms of the brittle star) are echinoderms in the class Ophiuroidea, closely related to starfish. They crawl across the sea floor using their flexible arms for locomo ...

s were associated with it in this habitat.

Distribution

In the Atlantic Ocean, this species is found from south Florida southwards to Brazil, and in the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. A single specimen was found in the South Atlantic Bight in Georgia in 2007 which is a northward extension to its range.

Habitat

''Iciligorgia schrammi'' normally grows at depths from 3 to 368 metres. It lives on vertical walls, standing out perpendicularly, and can also grow in deep water where the water is clear and the current high on slope breaks.

References

External links

Image of postage stamp

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2432019 Animals described in 1870 Anthothelidae