Gorgonian ID needed, please

[125G's]

I just purchased 3 gorgonians from a lfs and would like to narrow down the genus and family so I can properly care for these specimens. I attempted to identify them prior to the purchase, but could only tentatively identify 2 of the 3. I may be wrong in my identification of the 2, but trust someone out there will be able to identify them correctly.

The first one, see attached, is the one I have no idea on at all. Any information on it's habitat, water movement, lighting requirements would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Phil

[125G's]

Muricea pinnata or perhaps m. laxa? Caribbean or Pacific?

[125G's]

Possibly Diodogrogia nodulifera. It does have the snow white polyps referenced in Dr. Hugo's book, but the seller identified it as being from the Caribbean. I thought D. nodulifera was from the Pacific?

Thanks for all your help! Sorry for the picture quality, I couldn't seem to get a good shot of these.

Phil

[Spanky]

Phil,

Here's my guesses. LOL

#1 Plexaurella (more than likely homomalla)

#2 If it's TWA, it's probably Muricea elongata

#3 Could very well be D. nodulifera, they are TWA too. The purple color throws a wrench into that though. We usually don't see them in purple.

HTH
Spanks

[125G's]

Thanks for the response Spanky. A couple of items.....

What's TWA? Does it tie in with being aposymbiotic?

The picture of D. nodulifera is a bit off for the color, it's really a dark red with purplish calyces. (I hope I have the spelling and this term correct )

Phil

[Spanky]

Red, huh?

In that case, my best guess would be Thesea nivea. But that's a guess too.

TWA stands for Tropical Western Atlantic, that encompasses a greater area than just Caribbean.

Spanks