Antipathella wollastoni

Appearance

One of the most common morphologies of this species are branches in the form of feather dusters that sway placidly with the currents and that present little intricate secondary ramifications. Its usual color tone is usually ocher-orange and even reddish in the skeleton, while the polyps are whitish, in such a way that, in places with a high density of colonies, it gives the impression of contemplating a snowy coniferous forest.

Distribution

Macaronesia.

Habitat

Generally found in environments with low light and strong currents.

Reproduction

Gonochorism, broadcast spawning.

Food

They are capable of generating large amounts of mucus that serve, among other functions, to efficiently retain large amounts of particles and small invertebrates on which they feed. In this way, they obtain food by interposing their network of branches with tiny mouths in the mainstream.