Plexauridae

Plexauridae is a family of marine colonial octocorals in the phylum Cnidaria. Members of this family are found in shallow tropical and subtropical seas. Many species contain symbiotic photosynthetic protists called zooxanthellae.

Plexauridae
Paramuricea clavata with polyps extended
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Anthozoa
Order: Alcyonacea
Suborder: Holaxonia
Family: Plexauridae
Gray, 1859[1]
Genera
See text

Characteristics

The Plexauridae have a branching colony form and many are known as sea rods or sea fans. The axial core of the coral skeleton is horny and hollow, and contains no sclerites. This is covered by a layer of tissue called coenenchyme in which is embedded calcareous sclerites. The sclerites are very varied in form in the Plexauridae, and examination of their morphology is helpful in identifying the different species. The calyces in which the polyps sit are strengthened by further sclerites and have eight fine dividing walls called septa. The polyps each have eight pinnate tentacles. [2]

Genera

The World Register of Marine Species includes these genera in this family:[3]

  • Acanthacis Deichmann, 1936
  • Acanthomuricea Hentschel, 1903
  • Acis Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1860
  • Alaskagorgia Sánchez & Cairns, 2004
  • Anthomuricea Studer, 1887
  • Anthoplexaura Kükenthal, 1908
  • Astrogorgia Verrill, 1868
  • Astromuricea Germanos, 1895
  • Bayergorgia Williams & Lopez-Gonzalez, 2005
  • Bebryce Philippi, 1841
  • Chromoplexaura Williams, 2013
  • Cryogorgia Williams, 2005
  • Dentomuricea Grasshoff, 1977
  • Discogorgia Kükenthal, 1919
  • Echinogorgia Kölliker, 1865
  • Echinomuricea Verrill, 1869
  • Elasmogorgia Wright & Studer, 1889
  • Eunicea Lamouroux, 1816
  • Euplexaura Verrill, 1869
  • Heterogorgia Verrill, 1868
  • Hypnogorgia Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864
  • Lapidogorgia Grasshoff, 1999
  • Lepidomuricea Kükenthal, 1919
  • Lytreia Bayer, 1981
  • Menacella Gray, 1870
  • Menella Gray, 1870
  • Mesogligorgia Lopez-Gonzalez, 2007
  • Muricea Lamouroux, 1821
  • Muriceides Wright & Studer, 1889
  • Muriceopsis Aurivillius, 1931
  • Paracis Kükenthal, 1919
  • Paramuricea Koelliker, 1865
  • Paraplexaura Kükenthal, 1909
  • Placogorgia Wright & Studer, 1889
  • Plexaura Lamouroux, 1821
  • Plexaurella Kölliker, 1865
  • Plexauroides Wright & Studer
  • Plexauropsis Verrill
  • Psammogorgia Verrill, 1868
  • Pseudoplexaura Wright & Studer, 1889
  • Pseudothesea Kükenthal, 1919
  • Scleracis Kükenthal, 1919
  • Spinimuricea Grasshoff, 1992
  • Swiftia Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864
  • Thesea Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1860
  • Trimuricea Gordon, 1926
  • Villogorgia Duchassaing & Michelloti, 1862
Eunicea mammosa
Bebryce sulfurea

References
  1. van Ofwegen, Leen (2012). "Plexauridae". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
  2. S. T. DeVictor & S. L. Morton (2007). "Family Plexauridae". Guide to the Shallow Water Octocorals of the South Atlantic Bight. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
  3. "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Plexauridae Gray, 1859". marinespecies.org. Retrieved 2018-03-31.
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