User:Kcuriel/Callogorgia elegans

Phylogeny/Evolutionary History
The phylum Cnidaria contains animals commonly known as corals, anemones, jellyfishes, and more. C. elegans belongs to one of the four major classes within the phylum Cnidaria, known as Anthozoa, and is further sorted into the subclass Octocorallia. The family Primnoidae is classified mainly by its formation of colonies and branches, dichotomous arrangement of polyps, and sclerite form and number. This species was previously and incorrectly sorted into the genus Callicella before being transferred to the genus Callogorgia in 1878.

Defining Features
C. elegans, like other Cnidarians, have two tissue layers, the entoderm and ectoderm, separated by the mesoglea. Species with two tissue layers are known as diploblastic.

C. elegans has a colonial growth form specific to corals in the genus Callogorgia, a dichotomous growth form, which branches off in opposite directions. C. elegans have 0.78-0.93 millimeter polyps that face upwards, forming whorls with a diameter of 2.8-3.5 millimeters on branches. Each whorl contains four polyps and branches have 9 polyps per centimeter. These details fall into the defining characteristics of the genus Callogorgia. C. elegans has a tessellate sclerite pattern that decrease from abaxial to adaxial polyp side, with a thick polygonal scale shape, measuring up to 0.12 millimeters in thickness. The adaxial surface is usually protected by polyps that bend inward while the abaxial surface is more prone to attacks from predators. Numerous tubercules cover the central inner surface of the species’ scales, anchoring them in the mesoglea, found between the entoderm and ectoderm.

Ecology
The genus Callogorgia is typically found in tropical as well as warm temperate regions that include both the North Pacific and West Atlantic Oceans, although these species can occur in all seas over the globe. C. elegans is found at benthic levels within the depths of 280-480 meters from the southern area of the Hawaii-Emperor seamount chain in the North Pacific Ocean.

Species that belong to the genus Callogorgia are primnoid corals found in the deep-sea and are known to form habitats.

Feeding/Reproduction
Specific to the phylum Cnidaria, the cnidae, or nematocysts, are used for both capturing prey and for defense. Nematocysts are characterized as capsules that contain a sticky thread armed with spines or toxins that are ejected on contact.

Reproduction in the genus Callogorgia has yet to be studied, although species in the family Primnoidae have been known for coral spawning where gametes are released into the water and eventually settle at the ocean floor.