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. 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. Genera The World Register of Marine Species includes these genera in this family: 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 References Holaxonia Cnidarian families