Prof. Michael Schleyer, Südafrika
Info
Although the soft coral Sclerophytum macrodactyla is quite widespread in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean, various information about the coral is lacking.
Information about its size growth is very sparse (one reference from WoRMS >20cm).
Prof. Micheal Schleyer, South Africa, who was able to photograph the soft coral around Mayotte, noted about the animal that the colonies can be extensive.
Also only one information about the water depth could be found in SeaLifeBase: 30 - ? m.
As its species name "macrodactyla " indicates, this soft coral has very large lobes, which can have branches of different size.
The species is undoubtedly related to Sclerophytum flaccida, it has similar shaped lobes and large polyp sclerites.
We thank Prof.Michael Schleyer from South-Africa for the first photos of this soft coral.
Synonym: Sinularia macrodactyla Kolonko, 1926
Information about its size growth is very sparse (one reference from WoRMS >20cm).
Prof. Micheal Schleyer, South Africa, who was able to photograph the soft coral around Mayotte, noted about the animal that the colonies can be extensive.
Also only one information about the water depth could be found in SeaLifeBase: 30 - ? m.
As its species name "macrodactyla " indicates, this soft coral has very large lobes, which can have branches of different size.
The species is undoubtedly related to Sclerophytum flaccida, it has similar shaped lobes and large polyp sclerites.
We thank Prof.Michael Schleyer from South-Africa for the first photos of this soft coral.
Synonym: Sinularia macrodactyla Kolonko, 1926
