species: Hicksonella expansa in taxonomy (Gaia Guide)
Animalia > Radiata > Cnidaria > Anthozoa > Anthozoa > Octocorallia > Alcyonacea > Holaxonia > Gorgoniidae > Hicksonella > Hicksonella expansa (gallery)
Hicksonella expansa


©Anne: Hicksonella expansa at base of reef slope near Bird Islet, Lizard Island

©Anne: Detail of Hicksonella expansa at Lizard Island, polyps retracted

©Anne: Another colony of Hicksonella expansa at base of reef slope near Bird Islet, Lizard Island

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Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Cnidaria
Class Anthozoa
Order Alcyonacea
Family Gorgoniidae
Genus Hicksonella
Species Hicksonella expansa

Colours

    

Distinguishing features

Grey/brown branching colonies with thick, rubbery leaf-like blades. Polyps can retract completely; mounds around retracted polyp apertures give a knobbly appearance.

Size

  • Size data has not been obtained.

Synonyms

Distribution


©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution

Local abundance

  • Lizard Island: Can be numerous in places, e.g. base of reef slope off Bird Islet.

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