Microscopic view of the coral polyps of Paracalyptrophora sp. and Acanthogorgia sp.  showing the differences in polyp morphology between species. Polyps of Paracalyptrophora are downward, and arranged in whorls whereas Acanthogorgia has non-contractile polyps projecting outward from the axis. Also, Paracalyptrophora has larger, flat sclerites whereas the sclerites of Acanthogorgia are thin, and spine-like.
 Coral Polyps II
Image courtesy of Lophelia II 2010 Expedition, NOAA-OER/BOEMRE. Download larger version (jpg, 115 KB).

Microscopic view of the coral polyps of Paracalyptrophora sp. and Acanthogorgia sp. showing the differences in polyp morphology between species. Polyps of Paracalyptrophora are downward, and arranged in whorls whereas Acanthogorgia has non-contractile polyps projecting outward from the axis. Also, Paracalyptrophora has larger, flat sclerites whereas the sclerites of Acanthogorgia are thin, and spine-like.

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