| Xeniidae | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Heteroxenia fuscescens | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Cnidaria |
| Class: | Octocorallia |
| Order: | Alcyonacea |
| Suborder: | Alcyoniina |
| Family: | Xeniidae Ehrenberg, 1828 |
Xeniidae is a family of soft coral in the order Alcyonacea.
Predatory sea slugs of the genus Phyllodesmium are reported to feed on Xeniidae species. Representatives of this family have been observed to provide shelter to juvenile fish. [1]
The family contains the following genera: [2]
Xenia is a genus of photosynthetic soft marine coral in the family Xeniidae. They resemble a mushroom, with "arms" coming out from the top that end in many-fingered "hands". It is unique among corals because of its ability to use its "hands" to "pulse" or push water away from the colony in a constant, grabbing motion. Common names include fast-pulse Xenia. Species of Xenia are sometimes referred to as pulse corals.
Alcyonacea, or soft corals, are an order of corals. In addition to the fleshy soft corals, the order Alcyonacea now contains all species previously known as "gorgonian corals", that produce a more or less hard skeleton, though quite different from "true" corals (Scleractinia). These can be found in suborders Holaxonia, Scleraxonia, and Stolonifera. They are sessile colonial cnidarians that are found throughout the oceans of the world, especially in the deep sea, polar waters, tropics and subtropics. Common names for subsets of this order are sea fans and sea whips; others are similar to the sea pens of related order Pennatulacea. Individual tiny polyps form colonies that are normally erect, flattened, branching, and reminiscent of a fan. Others may be whiplike, bushy, or even encrusting. A colony can be several feet high and across, but only a few inches thick. They may be brightly coloured, often purple, red, or yellow. Photosynthetic gorgonians can be successfully kept in captive aquaria.
The pulsating xenid is a species of soft coral in the family Xeniidae. The species was first described in 1834 by Christian Gottfried Ehrenberg as Xenia fuscescens.
Phyllodesmium hyalinum is a species of sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Facelinidae.
Alcyoniidae is a family of leathery or soft corals in the phylum Cnidaria.
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.
Clavulariidae is a family of soft corals in the suborder Stolonifera. Colonies in this family consist of separate retractable polyps growing from a horizontal, encrusting stolon or basal membrane. The tissues are stiffened by sclerites.
Cornularia is a genus of soft corals in the suborder Stolonifera.
Paraminabea is a genus of soft corals in the family Alcyoniidae.
Lobophytum is a genus of soft corals commonly known as devil's hand corals or devil's hand leather corals.
Ovabunda is a genus of soft corals in the family Xeniidae.
Heteroxenia is a genus of soft corals in the family Xeniidae.
Paralcyoniidae is a family of soft corals in the phylum Cnidaria.
Anthelia is a genus of soft corals in the family Xeniidae.
Ingotia is a genus of soft corals in the family Xeniidae.
Orangaslia is a genus of soft corals in the family Xeniidae. It is monotypic with a single species, Orangaslia dipperae.
Sansibia is a genus of soft corals in the family Xeniidae.
Anthelia glauca, the giant anthelia, is a species of soft coral in the family Xeniidae. It is a colonial species and is found in shallow water in the Indo-Pacific region.
Parasphaerasclera is a genus of soft coral. It is the only genus in the monotypic family Parasphaerascleridae.
Data related to Xeniidae at Wikispecies  | This Octocorallia-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |