Douglas Mason, USA
Info
Cryptophyton goddardi Williams, 2000
This coral was named in honor of Jeff Goddard.
Just two species of the genus Cryptophyton are known, Cryptophyton goddardi Williams, 2000 and Cryptophyton jedsmithi Williams, 2013.
Described by Gary Williams (California Academy of Sciences) based on specimens from Cape Arago, Oregon, this species is now known as far south as Point San Luis, near Avila Beach in San Luis Obispo County.
This species can be locally common under intertidal ledges and cobbles. When fully contracted, as in this image, the polyps always leave a dome-shape protuberance. Colonies are often surrounded and partially overgrown by sponges, bryozoans and other encrusting colonial invertebrates.
This colony was from the underside of a low intertidal cobble just north of Pigeon Point (San Mateo County, CA) and was about 35 mm long. The nudibranch Tritonia festiva preys on the polyps of this species, as well as on all of the other octocorals included in this set of images.
This coral was named in honor of Jeff Goddard.
Just two species of the genus Cryptophyton are known, Cryptophyton goddardi Williams, 2000 and Cryptophyton jedsmithi Williams, 2013.
Described by Gary Williams (California Academy of Sciences) based on specimens from Cape Arago, Oregon, this species is now known as far south as Point San Luis, near Avila Beach in San Luis Obispo County.
This species can be locally common under intertidal ledges and cobbles. When fully contracted, as in this image, the polyps always leave a dome-shape protuberance. Colonies are often surrounded and partially overgrown by sponges, bryozoans and other encrusting colonial invertebrates.
This colony was from the underside of a low intertidal cobble just north of Pigeon Point (San Mateo County, CA) and was about 35 mm long. The nudibranch Tritonia festiva preys on the polyps of this species, as well as on all of the other octocorals included in this set of images.
