Bamboo coral, family Isididae, is a family of mostly deep-sea coral of the phylum Cnidaria. It is a commonly recognized inhabitant of the deep sea, due to the clearly articulated skeletons of the species. Deep water coral species such as this are especially affected by the practice of bottom trawling. These organisms may be an important environmental indicator in the study of long term climate change, as some specimens of bamboo coral have been discovered that are 4,000 years old.
Acanella is a genus of deep-sea bamboo coral of the family Isididae, containing the following species: Acanella are mainly studied and found in Hawaii, they are able to survive in high-flow sites and are preyed upon by nudibranch mollusks. It has a high fecundity and small size that allows high dispersal and recruitment; however, it has been classified as a vulnerable marine organism due to its vulnerability to bottom fishing gear.
Lepidisis is a genus of deep-sea bamboo coral in the family Isididae. It contains the following species:
Scleraxonia is a suborder of corals, a member of the phylum Cnidaria.
Gorgoniidae is a family of soft corals, a member of the subclass Octocorallia in the phylum Cnidaria. Nearly all the genera and species are native to the east and west coasts of America.
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.
Alcyonium is a genus of soft corals in the family Alcyoniidae.
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.
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.
Clavularia is a genus of corals in the family Clavulariidae. They are often referred by the common names star polyps or clove polyps.
Litophyton is a genus of soft corals in the family Nephtheidae.
Chrysogorgia is a genus of soft corals in the family Chrysogorgiidae.
Callogorgia is a genus of soft corals in the family Primnoidae.
Iciligorgia is a genus of soft coral in the family Anthothelidae.
Villagorgia is a genus of gorgonian-type octocorals in the family Plexauridae.
