Polyp: Colony branched on one plane, up to 10 cm tall, pink, purple or lavander in color, whitish toward the tip. Cups are visible along the colony, but polyps visible only if extended outside of the skeleton. Reproduction: Gonophores fixed sporosacs. Ecology and Distribution: Found in shallow water to approximately 70 m depth in the Caribbean Sea, Florida, and Bahamas. In Bocas del Toro collected in Swans Cay but thought to be more common. Similar taxa: Other species of Stylaster.
Bocas Species Database
Habitat: Widely distributed in shallow waters. Distribution: Caribbean Characteristics: Small pink or lavender branched colonies. Of ten branches in only an single plane to make fan-shaped colonies.