Corresponding author: Catherine S. McFadden (
Academic editor: B.W. Hoeksema
Molecular phylogenetic evidence indicates that the octocoral family Alcyoniidae is highly polyphyletic, with genera distributed across Octocorallia in more than 10 separate clades. Most alcyoniid taxa belong to the large and poorly resolved Holaxonia–Alcyoniina clade of octocorals, but members of at least four genera of Alcyoniidae fall outside of that group. As a first step towards revision of the family, we describe a new genus,
The anthozoan sub-class
Among the many families of octocorals that appear from molecular phylogenetic analyses to be polyphyletic, the soft coral family
Several genera of
Specimens of
Specimens of
Genus & Species | Authority | Museum & Cat. No. | Collection Location | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|
|
Linnaeus, 1758 | |||
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(Saville Kent, 1870) | RMNH Coel. 39672 | Portugal, Sagres | 1994 |
|
(Pallas, 1766) | RMNH Coel. 39678 | France, Marseilles | 1994 |
|
Linnaeus, 1758 | RMNH Coel. 39671 | Isle of Man | 1991 |
|
(Hassall, 1841) | RMNH Coel. 39668 | France, Iles des Glenans | 1994 |
|
Wright & Studer, 1889 | ZSM 20061191 | Chile, Canal Pitt Chico | 2006 |
|
Renouf, 1931 | RMNH Coel. 39661 | Isle of Man | 1991 |
|
Pallas, 1766 | RMNH Coel. 39685 | NE Spain | 1996 |
|
McFadden & Ofwegen, nom. n. | ZSM 20061195 | Chile, Paso del Abismo | 2006 |
|
Verrill, 1922 | USA, Massachusetts | 1989 | |
|
(Thomson, 1921) | RMNH Coel. 40800 | South Africa, Algoa Bay | 1998 |
|
(Thomson, 1921) | RMNH Coel. 41530 | South Africa, Algoa Bay | 2008 |
|
(Thomson, 1921) | RMNH Coel. 41531 | South Africa, Algoa Bay | 2008 |
|
||||
|
(Benayahu & Schleyer, 1995) | RMNH Coel. 40205 | South Africa, Park Rynie | 2008 |
|
(Benayahu & Schleyer, 1995) | RMNH Coel. 40799 | South Africa, Park Rynie | 2008 |
|
(Benayahu & Schleyer, 1995) | RMNH Coel. 41535 | South Africa, Aliwal Shoal | 2008 |
(Thomson & Dean, 1931) | NTM C14092 | Palau, Babeldaob | 2005 | |
(Thomson & Dean, 1931) | RMNH Coel. 40920 | Palau, Pelelieu | 2010 | |
|
(Thomson, 1910) | UF3890 | South Africa, East London | 1999 |
|
(Kükenthal, 1906) | RMNH Coel. 40206 | South Africa, Algoa Bay | 2008 |
|
(Kükenthal, 1906) | RMNH Coel. 41532 | South Africa, Algoa Bay | 2008 |
|
(Kükenthal, 1906) | RMNH Coel. 41534 | South Africa, Algoa Bay | 2008 |
|
||||
|
(Williams, 2003) | MNHN-IK-2012-12004 | New Caledonia | 2008 |
|
(Williams, 2003) | ZMUC-ANT-000256 | Mauritius | 1929 |
Sclerites were obtained by dissolving tissues from the upper and lower regions of a colony in 10% sodium hypochlorite (household bleach). Sclerites were rinsed well with deionized water, dried, and mounted on stubs for SEM. They were imaged using a JEOL JSM-6480LV scanning electron microscope operated at 10 kV.
Extraction of DNA from ethanol-preserved tissue samples, PCR amplification, and sequencing of the
The separate maximum likelihood analyses of the 28S rDNA and mitochondrial gene alignments generated phylogenies that were congruent with one another (with the sole exception of some internal relationships within
Maximum likelihood tree of
Members of family
Phylogenetic evidence suggests that genus
Our molecular phylogenetic analyses included a specimen of
Soft corals with a capitate growth form, with a distinct, spherical polyparium raised on a sterile stalk. Polyps monomorphic. Anthocodial sclerites absent. Sclerites of colony surface and interior are large, tuberculate spheroids and smaller radiates. Sclerites permanently colored. Azooxanthellate.
From the Latin/Greek
Sclerites of
Sclerites of
Unlike all other members of the
Although
Our records extend the known geographic distribution of
Soft corals with a digitiform, digitate or lobate growth form, usually with a sterile stalk although this may be indistinct. Polyps monomorphic. Permanent calyces absent, although retracted polyps may remain visible as small mounds on the polyparium surface. Anthocodial sclerites absent. Sclerites of colony surface and interior predominantly radiates and tuberculate spheroids, occasionally rods and crosses. Sclerites permanently colored. Azooxanthellate.
As diagnosed by
Sclerites of
Sclerites of
Sclerites of
Sclerites of
Sclerites of
Sclerites of
As for the family.
From the Greek root
All species of
We also reassign two species of
It is possible that another South African species of
A number of specimens of
Following the taxonomic changes we have made here, eleven species remain in
Until such time as the phylogenetic relationships among the species that remain in
Alcyoniid soft corals, usually digitiform (conical to cylindrical), sometimes digitate to lobate or clavate; polyparium arising from a common unbranched stalk. Polyps monomorphic. Calyces absent, although retracted polyps may form low rounded or mound-like protuberances of the coenenchyme. Anthocodial sclerites present, arranged in points or collaret and points. Coenenchymal sclerites mostly derived from radiates, although spindles, barrels, tuberculate spheroids, rod-like forms or crosses sometimes present. Color permanent and contained in the sclerites. Azooxanthellate.
Molecular phylogenetic analyses of a number of species belonging to the alcyoniid genera
We thank S. Abdalla, C. Hunt, J. Roy, and K. Whitfield for assistance with DNA sequencing. B. Picton, E. Rodriguez, S. Parker-Nance, M. Janes, K. Maloney and the Coral Reef Research Foundation (P. and L. Colin) assisted with collections in South Africa and Palau. Specimens from New Caledonia were provided by the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle (MNHN; Paris, France), and were collected by E. Pante during the “Terrasses” cruise, undertaken by the MNHN and the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD). The “Terrasses” cruise, organized by Sarah Samadi (IRD/MNHN), is part of the “Tropical Deep-Sea Benthos” research program (formerly MUSORTSOM), spearheaded by the MNHN and the IRD (
Taxa and sequences included in phylogenetic analysis. (doi: