Another ID

[bhanson]

A buddy of mine picked this up from a LFS the other day. Any idea what it might be? Thanks

 

[Charlesr1958]

Star polyps?

Chuck

 

[Anonymous]

It does look like retracted green star polyps. Any pictures of it when the polyps are extended?

 

[bhanson]

Yep, the polyps came out and they are definately GSP's. Thanks, I guess I have never really seen the branching sort.

 

[camaroracer214]

it might be an encrusting gorgonion.

 

[bhanson]

The polyps are identical to most other GSP's that I have seen. I dont have much experience with gorgonians, though.

 

[Anonymous]

They are similar species. But a GSP will kinda ooze like that if it doesn't have anything to encrust on or it's trying to reach more light. I just gave away a chunk or I'd show you what the edges looked like when the colony is on sand (which shows a similar growth pattern).

 

[camaroracer214]

how purple is the base? is it purple or pink?

if it's purple, then it's gsp. if it's pink, it's an encrusting gorgonian.

gsp:

encrusting gorgonian:

 

[bhanson]

It does have a pink base. I found pictures of a corky finger gorgonian that looks similar. The polyps extended look so similar to eachother (GSP's and Gorgonian) I had no idea there was such similarity. Thanks!