Holaxonia
| Holaxonia | |
|---|---|
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| Pinnigorgia sp. | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Cnidaria |
| Class: | Anthozoa |
| Subclass: | Octocorallia |
| Order: | Alcyonacea |
| Suborder: | Holaxonia Studer, 1887 |
| Families | |
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Holaxonia is a suborder of soft corals, a member of the phylum Cnidaria.[1] Members of this suborder are sometimes known as gorgonians and include the sea blades, the sea fans, the sea rods and the sea whips. These soft corals are colonial, sessile organisms and are generally tree-like in structure. They do not have a hard skeleton composed of calcium carbonate but have a firm but pliable, central axial skeleton composed of a fibrous protein called gorgonin embedded in a tissue matrix, the coenenchyme. In some genera this is permeated with a calcareous substance in the form of fused spicules. Members of this suborder are characterized by having an unspiculated axis and often a soft, chambered central core.[2] The polyps have eight-fold symmetry and in many species, especially in the families Gorgoniidae and Plexauridae, contain symbiotic photosynthetic algae called zooxanthellae. These soft corals are popular in salt water aquaria.[3][4]
Families and genera
The World Register of Marine Species list the following families and genera:[1]
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See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Holaxonia World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2011-12-03.
- ↑ Suborder Holaxonia Guide to the Shallow Water (0-200 m) Octocorals of the South Atlantic Bight. Retrieved 2011-12-05.
- ↑ Gorgonians (Holaxonia) Saltcorner. Retrieved 2011-12-03.
- ↑ Gorgonians Animal-World. Retrieved 2011-12-03.