Species ID
OC-SP-0003396
Discovered
Phylum
Cnidaria
Species ID
OC-SP-0003396
Provisional Species Name
Nicella sp_MAL1_560
Lowest Valid Taxon Name in WoRMS
Nicella
Lowest Known Rank
Genus
Status
Discovered
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Embargo
No
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Cnidaria
Class
Octocorallia
Order
Scleralcyonacea
Family
Ellisellidae
Genus
Nicella
Taxonomic Remarks
There is only one nominal species, Nicella dichotoma (Gray, 1860), from the Indian Ocean. The sclerites of this specimen have a typical Nicella character. Still, the colours of the sclerites and the branching pattern are different and have never been reported from the Indian Ocean. This is the first record of this genus from the Maldives and the third species from the Indian Ocean.
Received All Minimal Data for Discovery
10/04/2026
Description of Material
Colony: Height 30.9 cm, width 23.18 cm (Fig.1) Live colour: Dark orange at the base, fading to white at the tips Shape of the colony: Uniplanar fan Branching patterns: Irregular alternate branching Medium-dense branching No anastomoses Arrangement of polyps at tips of the branch: alternate biserial Branch diameter measurement (tip/base) 5mm at base and 1.3 mm at tip, maximum 3.5 mm. Polyps: Height: 0.7-1.1 mm, width: 0.8-1 mm (Fig.2) Colour of sclerites: Colourless
Distribution
Only known from Laamu, Maldives, Indian Ocean. Depth 65 m.
Scientific Name Authorship
Matsumoto
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