Description

Colonies are smoothly rounded domes, which may reach 50 cm diameter or more. The surface is covered with very long, meandering, very convoluted valleys about 5 mm wide. Valleys are very uniform in size and shape. Colonies are usually cream to brown.

Septa are well spaced and even in size, and have smooth edges and sides. There are white tentacle tips between septa in the valleys. One tentacle can be seen between each septum, and more are seen running along the centre of the valleys. The species is common in Chagos on both outer slopes and in lagoons at many sites, where they generally are found between 5-25 m depth. Whereas C. chagius is usually very highly meandroid, two colonies were found with valleys that are monocentric to perhaps four centres (Figures 13-16).