Published November 20, 2018 | Version v1
Taxonomic treatment Open

Plexauridae Gray 1859

Description

Family Plexauridae Gray, 1859

Diagnosis (after Kükenthal 1924; Bayer 1956, 1981; Sánchez & Cairns 2004; Williams and López-González 2005): Colonies display a variety of diverse forms, generally with thick branches arising laterally, dichotomously (in some, pinnately). Polyps completely retractile or form distinct calyces into which anthocodiae can be withdrawn. Axis with wide, chambered central chord; peripheral zone of loculated horny material, usually containing non-scleritic calcareous matter (common tendency toward heavy calcification of base in older colonies). Coenenchyme thick, perforated by system of longitudinal canals surrounding axis, delimiting outer coenenchymal layer from inner one (axial sheath), which differ in spiculation. Sclerites usually include some form of club; some with spindles only, oval bodies, rods or large quadriradiates.

Notes

Published as part of Horvath, Elizabeth A. & Stone, Robert P., 2018, Another unusual new gorgonian (Anthozoa: Octocorallia: Plexauridae) from the Aleutian Islands of Alaska, pp. 112-120 in Zootaxa 4524 (1) on page 113, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4524.1.8, http://zenodo.org/record/2610371

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Linked records

Additional details

Biodiversity

Family
Plexauridae
Kingdom
Animalia
Order
Alcyonacea
Phylum
Cnidaria
Scientific name authorship
Gray
Taxon rank
family
Taxonomic concept label
Plexauridae Gray, 1859 sec. Horvath & Stone, 2018

References

  • Gray, J. E. (1859) On the arrangement of zoophytes with pinnated tentacles. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Series 3, 4 (24), 439 - 444. https: // doi. org / 10.1080 / 00222935908697159
  • Kukenthal, W. (1924) Gorgonaria. In: Das Tierreich. Fol. 47. Walter de Gruyter & Company, Berlin, pp. i-xxviii + 1 - 478.
  • Bayer, F. M. (1956) Octocorallia, Part F. Coelenterata. In: Moore, R. C. (Ed.), Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology. Geological Society of America and University of Kansas Press, Lawrence-Kansas, pp. 166 - 231. [F 166 - F 231]
  • Bayer, F. M. (1981) Key to the genera of Octocorallia exclusive of Pennatulacea (Coelenterata: Anthozoa) with diagnoses of new taxa. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, 94 (3), 902 - 947. Available from: hdl. handle. net / 10088 / 978 (Accessed 19 Nov. 2018)
  • Sanchez, J. A. & Cairns, S. D. (2004) An unusual new gorgonian coral (Anthozoa: Octocorallia) from the Aleutian Islands, Alaska. Zoologische Mededelingen, Leiden, 78 (1 - 12), 265 - 274.
  • Williams, G. C. & Lopez-Gonzalez, P. J. (2005) A new Genus and Species of Gorgonian Octocoral (Anthozoa: Plexauridae) from Antarctic Waters. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, 56 (26), 379 - 390.