Fig. 5. Gyrophyllum hirondellei Studer, 1891 in A new family for the enigmatic sea pen genus Gyrophyllum Studer, 1891 (Octocorallia, Pennatulacea), a molecular and morphological approach

Fig. 5. Gyrophyllum hirondellei Studer, 1891. Cross-sections of the axis near the rachis-peduncle limit of G. hirondellei colonies from SCOTIA cruises. A. Colony BECA (OPEN-660), a colony 112 mm in total length, showing an X-shaped cross-section, with an already apparent asymmetry. If growth rings are assumed to be produced annually this specimen is ~5 years old. B. Colony BECA (OPEN-661), a colony 215 mm in total length, showing a highly asymmetric X-shaped cross-section and a symmetrical central core (white dots). This specimen is ~14 years old according to growth rings with the proviso above.