Plexaurella

Plexaurella
Coral reef assembly with Plexaurella nutans at right back
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Anthozoa
Subclass: Octocorallia
Order: Alcyonacea
Suborder: Holaxonia
Family: Plexauridae
Genus: Plexaurella
Kölliker, 1865 [1]
Species
See text

Plexaurella is a genus of gorgonian-type octocorals in the family Plexauridae. Species of the genus are typically characterised by their slit-pores, however, there are some which lack this distinguishing feature (e.g. P. grisea).[2] Sclerite examination is necessary for species identification, which reveals the characteristic 4-rayed 'butterfly' spicules of the cortex and the lack of purple sclerites in the axial sheath.[2]

Species

The World Register of Marine Species lists the following species in the genus:[1]

  • Plexaurella crassa (Ellis, 1756)
  • Plexaurella curvata Kunze, 1916
  • Plexaurella dichotoma (Esper, 1791)
  • Plexaurella furcata (Lamarck, 1816)
  • Plexaurella grandiflora Verrill, 1912
  • Plexaurella grisea Kunze, 1916
  • Plexaurella heteropora (Lamarck, 1816)
  • Plexaurella kunzei Kükenthal, 1916>
  • Plexaurella minuta Kunze, 1916
  • Plexaurella nutans (Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1860)
  • Plexaurella porosa Gordon, 1925
  • Plexaurella pumila Verrill, 1912
  • Plexaurella regia Barreira e Castro, 1986
  • Plexaurella tenuis Kunze, 1916
  • Plexaurella teres Kunze, 1916
  • Plexaurella vanderhorsti Stiasny, 1935
  • Plexaurella vermiculata (Lamarck, 1816)

References

  1. 1 2 van Ofwegen, Leen (2010). "Plexaurella Kölliker, 1865". World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2012-12-18.
  2. 1 2 Bayer, FM 1961. Shallow water Octocorallia of the West Indian Region. Studies of the fauna of Curacao and other Caribbean islands. 55.
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