Octocorals with monopodial branching and an axial polyp from which all lateral daughter polyps arise.
There are five species belonging to three genera of clavulariid octocorals in the SAB. The species of Telesto represented in this region are often distinguished by the presence and orientation of the flat anthocodial rods in the polyp tentacles. These rods may be difficult to see, especially if the polyps are retracted into the calyces. Variability in these features can be seen not only within colonies, but also within individual polyps. It appears that if larvae are present within the calyces the polyps are reduced in size, making it difficult to distinguish the orientation of the tentacular rods. Relaxing the polyps prior to preservation may make identification easier (see methods).
Both forms of Scleranthelia rugosahave an encrusting growth form that make them difficult to recognize in situ.

1a. – Colonies encrusting hard substrate or dead colonies of octocorals. Calyces conical, connected by ribbon or sheet-like stolons. Sclerites consisting of coarse plates arranged in mosaic-like manner .................................................................2

top left: Scleranthelia rugosa var. musiva; top right: plate sclerite of Scleranthelia rugosa var. musiva (image courtesy NMNH/FM Bayer); bottom: Scleranthelia rugosa var.rugosa

1b. – Colonies with monopodial branching, sometimes bushy. Calyces cylindrical. Sclerites as forked rods, radiates, granules and spindles, but not plates .............................................................3

left: Telesto sanguinea; middle: granular sclerite of Telesto fruticulosa; right: rod sclerite of Carijoa riisei