White Gorgonian

White Gorgonian, Leptagorgia alba

White Gorgonian, Leptagorgia alba. Coral provided by the commercial fishermen in the greater Los Cabos area, Baja California Sur, July 2009. Size: 30 cm (12 inches) x 18 cm (7.5 inches).

White Gorgonian, Leptagorgia alba. Coral provided by the commercial fishermen in the greater Los Cabos area, Baja California Sur, July 2009. Size: 38 cm (15 inches) x 23 cm (9.1 inches).

The White Gorgonian, Leptagorgia alba, is an octocoral and a member of the Gorgoniidae Family of Gorgonians, that is known in Mexico as látigo de mar. The Genus Leptagorgia, is a large Genus with more than 50 currently known individual species.

The White Gorgonian has a small thin base with several long seldom branched slender white stalks about 1 mm in diameter that taper to a pointed end that bear white polyps. They reach 90 cm (35 inches) in length and are found attached to rocky reefs subtidally to depths up to at least 70 m (230 feet). Reproduction is gonochoric or hermaphroditic with mature gametes being shed into the coelenteron and spawned through the mouth. The zygote develop into planktonic planula larva and metamorphosis begins with early morphogenesis of tentacles, septa, and pharyns before larval settlement on the aboral end.

The White Gorgonian are found throughout the Sea of Cortez, being very common in Bahía de los Ángeles, Baja California. They range south to Panama, including the Cocos and Galapagos Islands. They are currently of interest to scientists because they contain a series of novel biochemicals (thought to be present to ward off fish predators) that are being evaluated to kill malaria causing parasites in humans.

Request for Help. This identification should be considered tentative due to the very remote location of the collection (Latitude 23oN and Longitude 110oW). I have found very little scientific focus on this area of the world and therefore supporting scientific documentation is not available. I welcome additional information on this coral from anyone who cares to contact me.