USNM 1240234 is not Hypnogorgia sp. While the conical protrusions seen along the axis are similar in appearance to the shelf-shaped calyx of Hypnogorgia pendula, these are not calices. The conical protrusions lay between the polyps and their calices. The specimen's polyps are retractile and have a very small mound-shaped calyx. These characteristics exclude this specimen from being part of the genus Hypnogorgia. On the other hand, the specimen does exhibit large cortical spindles that are similar to Hypnogorgia; however, the characteristics previously stated are also present in the genus Paracis. The specimen closely resembles several line drawings associated with Paracis enopla from The Alcyonaria of the “Blake” Expeditions: The Unpublished Plates. There is no current record of Paracis enopla as valid species or of its reclassification of this species. The sample is identical to other samples DCEL has analyzed morphologically either from samples directly collected or samples collected by collaborators. There are also several occurrences of this diagnosis in this sample set as well.
