Siphonogorgia godeffroyi

Siphonogorgia godeffroyi, the cherry blossom coral or Godeffroy's Soft Coral, is a species of soft coral in the family Nidaliidae. It is native to the central Indo-Pacific region. Its range includes Indonesia, the Philippines and Papua New Guinea.^[2] This species was first described in 1874 by the Swiss biologist Albert von Kölliker.

Siphonogorgia godeffroyi
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Cnidaria
Subphylum:	Anthozoa
Class:	Octocorallia
Order:	Malacalcyonacea
Family:	Nidaliidae
Genus:	Siphonogorgia
Species:	S. godeffroyi
Binomial name
Siphonogorgia godeffroyi Kölliker, 1874[1]

Description

The tunicate Atriolum robustum on Siphonogorgia godeffroyi

Siphonogorgia godeffroyi is an arborescent coral with red or pink bare branches. The polyps are white and star-like and are concentrated on the tips of small branches. This species feeds on plankton. It is found at depths between 10 and 20 m (33 and 66 ft) and grows on both rocky and coral reefs, on rock ledges, on reef slopes and under overhangs.^[3]