Plexaurella

Plexaurella
Coral reef assembly with Plexaurella nutans at right back
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Cnidaria
Class:	Octocorallia
Order:	Alcyonacea
Family:	Plexauridae
Genus:	Plexaurella Kölliker, 1865 [1]
Species
See text

Plexaurella is a genus of gorgonian-type octocorals in the family Plexauridae. Species of the genus are typically characterised by their slit-pores, however, there are some which lack this distinguishing feature (e.g. P. grisea).[2] Sclerite examination is necessary for species identification, which reveals the characteristic 4-rayed 'butterfly' spicules of the cortex and the lack of purple sclerites in the axial sheath.[2]

Species

The World Register of Marine Species lists the following species in the genus:[1]

Plexaurella crassa (Ellis, 1756) Plexaurella curvata Kunze, 1916 Plexaurella dichotoma (Esper, 1791) Plexaurella furcata (Lamarck, 1816) Plexaurella grandiflora Verrill, 1912 Plexaurella grisea Kunze, 1916 Plexaurella heteropora (Lamarck, 1816)

Plexaurella kunzei Kükenthal, 1916> Plexaurella minuta Kunze, 1916 Plexaurella nutans (Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1860) Plexaurella regia Barreira e Castro, 1986 Plexaurella tenuis Kunze, 1916 Plexaurella teres Kunze, 1916 Plexaurella vermiculata (Lamarck, 1816)

References

1. van Ofwegen, Leen (2010). "Plexaurella Kölliker, 1865". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2012-12-18.
2. Bayer, FM 1961. Shallow water Octocorallia of the West Indian Region. Studies of the fauna of Curacao and other Caribbean islands. 55.