Table A 1 in A review of gorgonian coral species (Cnidaria, Octocorallia, Alcyonacea) held in the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History research collection: focus on species from Scleraxonia, Holaxonia, Calcaxonia - Part III: Suborder Holaxonia continued, and suborder Calcaxonia

Table A1. Contrasts and comparisons of key "red whip" species and/or species of the genus Swiftia, as represented in SBMNH collection.
Red Whip speciesLocation, S to NLocation DepthColony BranchingColony ColorPolyp SpacingPolyp HeightSclerite ColorSclerite FormSclerite SizeLeptogorgia flexilisMagdalena Bay, Baja to San Diego, CA11 meters to?Thin, drooping branches; highly branched colonyRed/pink to tan/beige Polyps white to very pale orangeNo more than 1 mmNo more than 1 mmBright SalmonSpindles & Capstans0.03-0.09 mmLeptogorgia chilensisN of Magdalena Bay to Santa Cruz Is., CAApprox. 15-80 mThin branches; moderately branchedOrange-red Polyps white1 mmGenerally, almost flushBright SalmonSpindles & Capstans0.03-0.05 mmRed Whip (?"Transitional/Regional Endemic")San Diego, CA to off Oregon coast?20-2,000 metersModerate thickness to branches; slightly branched to not branchedOrange-red Polyps whiteVaries from 1 to 2 mmGenerally, from flush to nearly 1 mm; rarely tallerSalmonSpindles & Dbl. Spinds.Approx. 0.1 mmRed Whip (?"Transitional/Regional Endemic")San Diego, CA to off Oregon coast; possible extension to WA coastApprox. 12-150 mModerately thin branches, whip-like; slightly branchedOrange-red Polyps white (?pale pink)Varies from 1 to 2 mmGenerally, consistently flush, rarely taller; on some, prominentSalmonSpindles & Dbl. Spinds.Approx. 0.1 mm"? Swiftia Transitional/ Regional species"N Los Angeles County to Point ConceptionApprox. 104-173 mSingle branches; also slightly branched (if so, dichotomous)Bright red to salmon-pink Polyps whiteLess than 1 mmApprox. 1 mmSalmonSpindles; very few Capstans, Dbl. Spinds. or RodsFrom 0.04 mm to nearly +.16 mmSwiftia simplexN Los Angeles County to Alaska200-900 mSingle branches; sometimes slightly branchedPinkish-red (Brick-red) Polyps pinkish-redNo more than 2 mmApprox. 1 mmPinkish-red (Brick color) Rods orangeSpindles, Capstans, Rods and Dbl. Spinds.0.1-0.3 mmChromoplexaura markiPoint Conception to Cape Mendocino, CA (?further north to WA state, on to Alaska)20-60 m; possibly deeper (to 600 m)Single branches; sometimes slightly to moderately branchedBright red, orange, even pinkish Polyps white or colored2 mmNearly flush to 2 mmSalmon to reddishSpindles, Capstans, Ovals and Dbl. Spinds; NO Rods0.05 mm to ≅ 0.2 mmSwifita spauldingiMonterey Bay, CA to off Washington coast (?further north to Alaska)40 to at least 300 mModerate branch thickness; branched to some degreeOrange-red Polyps white or very pale pinkabout 1 mmNearly flush to often very conspicuous, roundedSalmon to pinkish- orange; some yellow; Rods orangeSpindles, Capstans, Rods and Dbl. Spinds.About 0.1 mm