Key to the Families of Shallow Water (0-200m) Octocorals of the South Atlantic Bight

Order Pennatulacea- Couplet 10

10a. – Colonies pen- or whip-like, with autozooids arranged in polyp leaves along sides of axis
..............................................Family Virgulariidae

left: Stylatula elegans, showing polyp leaves; right: Virgularia presbytes showing polyp leaves

10b. – Colonies club-like, without polyp leaves, with autozooids scattered or in rows on rachis

.....................................Family Kophobelemnidae
Sclerobelemnon theseus Bayer, 1959

rachis of Sclerobelemnon theseus