Armadillogorgia Bayer 1980

Armadillogorgia Bayer, 1980

Diagnosis (Cairns & Bayer 2009, modifications in bold).

Colonies unbranched (flagelliform) or sparsely dichotomously branched. Calyces arranged in whorls of up to 20 calyces, facing upward and downward; adaxial side of calyces adnate to branch. Operculum not present nor are distinctive marginal scales; calycular aperture (mouth) a simple, unadorned pore. Polyp completely covered by sclerites, the abaxial body wall covered by two rows of up to 70 broad, smooth, sickle-shaped or J-shape sclerites that meet in an alternating (zigzag) pattern on calyx midline. Sclerites on adaxial and circumoral region scale-like but not arranged in rows or in any order. Coenenchyme composed of two layers of sclerites, an outer layer of goblet-shaped sclerites and oval sclerites; an inner layer of tuberculate spheroids.

Distribution. Southwest Atlantic and Scotia Sea, off South Georgia, from 659 to 1307 m depth.

Type species. Armadillogorgia cyathella Bayer, 1980 by original designation and monotypy.