Plexauridae
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| File:Paramuricea clavata (Risso, 1826) 3.jpg | |
| Paramuricea clavata with polyps extended | |
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Plexauridae
Gray, 1859[1]
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Plexauridae is a family of marine colonial octocorals in the phylum Cnidaria. Members of this family are found in shallow tropical and sub-tropical seas. Many species contain symbiotic photosynthetic protists called zooxanthellae.
Characteristics
Members of the family 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 the following genera in this family:[1]
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- Acanthacis Deichmann, 1936
- Acanthomuricea Hentschel, 1903
- Alaskagorgia Sánchez & Cairns, 2004
- Anthomuricea Studer, 1887
- Anthoplexaura Kükenthal, 1908
- Astrogorgia Verrill, 1868
- Astromuricea Germanos, 1895
- Bayergorgia Williams & Lopez-Gonzalez, 2005
- Bebryce Philippi, 1841
- 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, 1812
- Plexaurella Kölliker, 1865
- Psammogorgia Verrill, 1868
- Pseudoplexaura Wright & Studer, 1889
- Pseudothesea Kükenthal, 1919
- Rumphella Bayer, 1955
- Scleracis Kükenthal, 1919
- Spinimuricea Grasshoff, 1992
- Swiftia Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864
- Thesea Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1860
- Trichogorgia Hickson, 1904
- Trimuricea Gordon, 1926
- Villogorgia Duchassaing & Michelloti, 1862
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