Xeniidae

Xeniidae
Heteroxenia fuscescens
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Cnidaria
Subphylum:	Anthozoa
Class:	Octocorallia
Order:	Alcyonacea
Suborder:	Alcyoniina
Family:	Xeniidae Ehrenberg, 1828

Xeniidae is a family of soft coral in the order Alcyonacea.

Predators

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]

List of genera

The family contains the following genera: ^[2]

• Anthelia Lamarck, 1816
• Asterospicularia Utinomi, 1951
• Bayerxenia Alderslade, 2001
• Caementabunda Benayahu, van Ofwegen & McFadden, 2018
• Conglomeratusclera Benayahu, van Ofwegen & McFadden, 2018
• Ezziona Alderslade & Janes, 2017
• Fasciclia Janes, 2008
• Funginus Tixier-Durivault, 1978
• Heteroxenia Kölliker, 1874
• Ingotia Alderslade, 2001
• Latissimia Benayahu, Ekins & McFadden, 2022
• Orangaslia Alderslade, 2001
• Ovabunda Alderslade, 2001
• Quattuoria Benayahu & McFadden, 2022
• Sansibia Alderslade, 2000
• Sarcothelia Verrill, 1928
• Sympodium Ehrenberg, 1834
• Unomia Benayahu, van Ofwegen, Allais & McFadden, 2021
• Xenia Lamarck, 1816
• Yamazatum Benayahu, 2010

• 
  Anthelia glauca
• 
  Cespitularia sp.
• 
  Heteroxenia fuscescens
• 
  Ovabunda andamanensis
• 
  Xenia umbellata

• 
  This nudibranch ( Phyllodesmium crypticum ) mimics Xeniid corals it feeds on
• 
  Cerates of a Phyllodesmium rudmani

References

1. Bos, Arthur R (2016). "Soft corals provide microhabitat for camouflaged juveniles of the Blackspotted wrasse Macropharyngodon meleagris (Labridae)". Marine Biodiversity. 46 (1): 299–301. doi:10.1007/s12526-015-0332x (inactive 1 July 2025).
2. "Xeniidae". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species . Retrieved 23 July 2022.

External links

• Data related to Xeniidae at Wikispecies