| Alcyonium | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Alcyonium fauri | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Cnidaria |
| Class: | Octocorallia |
| Order: | Alcyonacea |
| Family: | Alcyoniidae |
| Genus: | Alcyonium Linnaeus, 1758 |
| Species [1] | |
See text | |
Alcyonium is a genus of soft corals in the family Alcyoniidae.
Species in the genus include:
Alcyoniidae is a family of leathery or soft corals in the phylum Cnidaria.
Holaxonia is a suborder of soft corals, a member of the phylum Cnidaria. 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. 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.
Melithaea is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is Melithaea ochracea.
Dendronephthya is a genus of soft corals in the family Nephtheidae. There are over 250 described species in this genus. They are sometimes kept in aquariums, but are notoriously difficult to keep, requiring a near constant supply of small foods such as phytoplankton.
Leptogorgia is a genus of soft coral in the family Gorgoniidae. The genus has a widespread distribution with members being found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean from Western Europe to South Africa, the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic coasts of North and South America, the Antilles and the Pacific coast of America. Species are found in both shallow and deep waters.
Sinularia is a genus of soft coral in the family Alcyoniidae. They are commonly known as leather corals and currently have 166 described species in the genus.
Siphonogorgia is a genus of soft corals in the family Nidaliidae. Like other members of this family, these corals do not contain symbiotic zooxanthellae.
Anthomastus is a genus of soft corals in the family Alcyoniidae.
Ellisella, commonly known as sea whip, is a genus of soft coral in the family Ellisellidae.
Swiftia is a genus of gorgonian-type octocorals in the family Plexauridae.
Bebryce is a genus of gorgonian-type octocorals in the family Plexauridae.
Clavularia is a genus of corals in the family Clavulariidae. They are often referred by the common names star polyps or clove polyps.
Cladiella is a genus of soft corals native to the Indo-Pacific region. These corals are commonly known as colt corals or finger leather corals and are often kept in reef aquaria. They grow fast, have short rounded or conical lobes and are sticky to the touch owing to the production of much mucus. They are creamy or pale grey in colour. The polyps are fully retractable and give the colony a fluffy look when extended. They may be a contrasting green or brown hue.
Klyxum is a genus of animals in the family Alcyoniidae. They are commonly called cauliflower colt coral, or simply colt coral. These common names can also refer to the related genus Cladiella.
Cespitularia is a genus of soft corals in the family Xeniidae.
Litophyton is a genus of soft corals in the family Nephtheidae.
Parasphaerasclera is a genus of soft coral. It is the only genus in the monotypic family Parasphaerascleridae.
Sarcophyton is a genus of corals in the family Alcyoniidae that are commonly kept in reef aquaria.
Villagorgia is a genus of gorgonian-type octocorals in the family Plexauridae.
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