Sea plume (Antillogorgia elisabethae)
Source-cited species reference: taxonomy from WoRMS, biology from SeaLifeBase, occurrence map from GBIF, description from Wikipedia.
Last updated
Distribution map plotted from GBIF.org occurrence records; basemap Natural Earth 110m · GBIF records CC0 / CC BY; Natural Earth public domain
Antillogorgia elisabethae is a species of soft coral found in the Caribbean Sea in the shape of a sea plume (also called a sea whip). It resides from depths of 25 m to 30 m, often at reef drop-offs. It looks like a plume of feathery appendages with radial symmetry.
The branches of A. elisabethae are pinnate and distichous, and will orient themselves in the direction of the ocean current. It ranges in size from 0.3 m to 2 m. It is considered commercially important as it is harvested for analgesics and cosmetic creams.
The compound that is believed to cause its beneficial effects is Pseudopterosin A, a diterpene glycoside, a selective analgesic. A. elisabethae is also used in fish tanks as a part of the commercial pet industry. The species has a Least Concern conservation status.
Scientific classification
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumCnidaria
- SubphylumAnthozoa
- ClassOctocorallia
- OrderMalacalcyonacea
- FamilyGorgoniidae
- GenusAntillogorgia
- SpeciesAntillogorgia elisabethae
Named by Bayer, 1961
Close relatives
Other species of Antillogorgia with a Codexery entry.
- Antillogorgia bipinnata Antillogorgia bipinnata
Sources: Wikipedia taxobox: Antillogorgia elisabethae (CC BY-SA 4.0) · order, family and genus agree with WoRMS AphiaID 708862 (CC BY 4.0)
Where the sea plume (antillogorgia elisabethae) has been recorded
Each dot is a place where the species has been observed and reported (40 records, half-degree grid) — not a modelled range. 4 inland records left out (institution coordinates).
Map: drawn by Codexery. Data: GBIF occurrence search (records CC0 / CC BY) · Natural Earth basemap (public domain) · place coordinates: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Classification (WoRMS)
Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Cnidaria · Class: Octocorallia · Order: Malacalcyonacea · Family: Gorgoniidae · Genus: Antillogorgia.
Accepted name: Antillogorgia elisabethae · Authority: (Bayer, 1961) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 708862.
Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae Bayer, 1961.
Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=708862 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.
Biology and life history (SeaLifeBase)
Measured values published by SeaLifeBase for Antillogorgia elisabethae. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.
Depth range: 2–23 m · Habitat zone: sessile.
Source: SeaLifeBase species summary (SpecCode 44138) — https://www.sealifebase.se/summary/Antillogorgia-elisabethae.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.
Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)
40 georeferenced occurrence records for Antillogorgia elisabethae are published through GBIF from 9 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 16 distinct locations from a sample of 40 records, omitting 4 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.
Most records by country or area: Bahamas (10); United States of America (9); Jamaica (8); Colombia (3); Guadeloupe (3); Martinique (3); Panama (2); Cuba (1); Cayman Islands (1).
Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 8230827) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=8230827&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=708862 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-25.
Description and natural history (Wikipedia)
The female exposes her eggs to the water current by placing them on her reproductive polyps. Sperm will eventually come into contact with the eggs, and the fertilized egg will develop into a planula in 1–2 days. The larvae form a colony on the parent for two to four days and then will become free-swimming. The free-swimming larvae are ciliated and bilaterally symmetric.
Once the larvae become free-swimming, they will usually settle near the parent organism, as they are negatively buoyant and will sink to the ocean floor, where they grow into adults and continue the cycle. Its mating system is thus polygynandrous. The peak reproductive times for A. elisabethae are between November and January.
Source: Wikipedia: Antillogorgia elisabethae — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antillogorgia_elisabethae (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Antillogorgia elisabethae (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Classification: the source article's taxobox; order, family and genus checked against WoRMS, the World Register of Marine Species (CC BY 4.0).
- Occurrence records: GBIF (CC0 / CC BY). Basemap: Natural Earth (public domain).
- Biology values: SeaLifeBase species summary (CC BY-NC 3.0, non-commercial).
- Word definitions: the , each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
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