Difference between Alcyonium or Nephthyigorgia?

[dendro982]

What is the difference between Alcyonium or Nephthyigorgia?

Both names are used for chili-alike corals, Alcyonum digitatum, A. palmatum, A glomeratum, and so on. Found in Atlantic, Pacific and Mediterranean, coasts of Europe and Americas. Cold or temperate water only - can't say.

Alcyonium also used for a Colt coral, which is quite different.

Close-ups of the polyps look just like chili coral, yet it's more frequently referred as Nephthyigorgia with no explanations.

Do you have any information on this?

 

[seapug]

hmmm....I've never heard of a Colt coral being called a Chili Coral, or vise-versa.

True "chili corals" I've seen are of the species Nephthyigorgia-- non photosynthetic, stiff, red bodied, blunt branches, with white polyps.

"Colt corals" I've always been familiar with are from the genus Alcyonium-- photosynthetic, commonly brownish-gray to yellow, with long branches lined with polyps and a soft, slimy texture.

 

[dendro982]

hmmm....I've never heard of a Colt coral being called a Chili Coral, or vise-versa.

I didn't say that , quoting myself:

Alcyonium also used for a Colt coral

Links to the chili coral -like corals, referred as Alcyonium:
Saltcorner , Reeflex , ITIS (taxonomy) , and, sorry, Google

The question is not about the difference between colt and chili coral, but about the difference in nomenclature of the corals, that looks alike to what is known to us as the chili coral.

 

[dendro982]

Anybody?