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Family: Antipathidae
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Bocas Species Database Habitat: Normally at depths greater than 20 m. Distribution: Throughout the Caribbean. This species was commonly observed in around Bocas. Characteristics: - Colony unbranched and 1-3m in height - Colony straight or coiled on distal section - Axial tissue red/brown in coloration - Polyps with translucent, white or pale brown tentacles, occurring on only one side of the axis - Spines on polypar side of axis are tall, and take the form of normal triangular spines intermixed with very abnormally shaped spines (multi-peaked, anastomosing, bifurcating). Spacing between spines varies greatly, with both regularly and irregularly-spaced sections. Spines on the abpolypar side of the axis are small/short and triangular in form - Note: S. lutkeni and S. occidentalis appear nearly indistinguishable in the field |