About Dendronephthya hemprichi (Klunzinger, 1877)
Dendronephthya hemprichi, scientifically described by Klunzinger in 1877, is a common species of soft coral. Its native range extends from the Red Sea to the Western Pacific. In May 2023, multiple specimens were filmed off the Mediterranean coast of Israel, specifically along the coast of the city of Sdot Yam. It was later also photographed in Byblos, Lebanon. Individuals are typically pink or orange, have a transparent trunk, and can grow up to 70 cm in size. This species occurs at 30° N latitude. Like all corals, its smallest structural unit is the polyp. Dendronephthya hemprichi can reproduce both sexually and asexually, via broadcast spawning for sexual reproduction and clonal propagation for asexual reproduction, respectively.
