Alcyonacea

From RTAW Reefpedia

Taxonavigation Kingdom: Animalia Sub Kingdom: Eumetazoa Super Phylum: Radiata Phylum: Cnidaria Class: Anthozoa Sub Class: Octocorallia Order: Alcyonacea Family: Alcyoniidae - Briaridae - Clavulariidae - Nephtheidae - Nidaliidae - Xeniidae

Introduction

Typically referred to as Soft Corals.

Characteristics

With very few exceptions have calcareous particles called sclerites within the tissue^[1].

Classification

• Alcyoniidae -
• Clavulariidae -
• Nephtheidae -
• Nidaliidae -
• Xeniidae -

Gallery

Sarcophyton sp. Leather Coral Family: Alcyoniidae	Briareum sp. Family: Briaridae	Clavularia sp. Clove Polyp Family: Clavulariidae	Dendronephthya sp. Dendro Family: Nephtheidae
Nephthyigorgia sp. Chilli Coral Family: Nidaliidae	Anthelia sp. Waving Hand Coral Family: Xeniidae

Resources

• Soft corals and sea fans - List of families and genera
• Soft coral atlas of the Great Barrier Reef - The Soft Coral Atlas of the Great Barrier Reef contains distribution maps, detailed ecological information and colour photographs of the 36 most common genera of soft corals and sea fans (Alcyonacea, Octocorallia) found on the Great Barrier Reef. (free and available for download)
• Taxonomy in Aquarium Corals: Part 3 - Everything Else - Soft Corals, Zoanthids, and Corallimorpharians by Eric Borneman - reefkeeping.com

References