Possible vestige of early phosphatic biomineralization in gorgonian octocorals (Coelenterata)

Skeletal carbonate hydroxylapatite, heretofore unknown in modern coelentera tes, has been found in the axes and holdfasts of the gorgonian octocoral fa mily Gorgoniidae. This carbonate apatite is a distinctive feature of this f amily of octocorals and may indicate a previous history of phosphatic skele tal mineralization within this phylum.