Muricella

Scientific name : Muricella

Large planar fan shaped colonies, 70 cm high. Thick branches, cometimes forming small fans parallel to the main. The coenenchyme is pink, purple, yellow or brown. The small polyps have often a contrsting colour (red, orange, purple). They can not withdraw completely, when contracted they are always visible, like prominent buds. Due to the close branches and to the non-retractable polyps, it is very similar to certain species. AnthogorgiaMuricella usually has smaller polyps. Confusion is possible also with Astrogorgia, having retractable polyps within calyces, in turn similar to the contracted Muricella polyps.

Associated organisms
On Muricella the pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti). can be found. Occasionally shrimps like Periclimenes psamathe or gobies (Gobiidae).