 : Nephtheidae
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Taxonomy: Alcyonacea:
Nephtheidae
(Octocorals) Body Form: A Nephtheid has the appearance of a small tree - a 'bonsai'. They generally have a thick stalk with numerous branches. They posses both autozooids (feeding) and siphonozooids (circulating water). Slerites are scattered and the body surface is smooth. Diet: The octocorals are generally polytrophic - getting nutrition from zooxanthellae (algae) in their tissues, nutrient uptake from the seawater, and feeding on microplankton. Care Level: easy Natural History: Nephtheids include cauliflower and carnation soft corals. They are more delicate than the Alcyonarians. They may be difficult to maintain and colony collapse is a common problem. Taxonomy is difficult, even to the genus level. |
