OCTOCORAL CLASSIFICATION

(HIGHER TAXA)

compiled by

Gary C. Williams

California Academy of Sciences

 

(Revised system by Bayer, 1981 for Helioporacea and Alcyonacea; Kükenthal, 1915 and Williams, 1995 for Pennatulacea)

Octocoral totals worldwide: 3 orders, 45 families, ca. 334 genera, 2000-4000 estimated species

ORDER HELIOPORACEA (2 families, 2 genera); rigid skeleton composed of aragonite

sclerites when present are calcitic.

1. Lithotelestidae (1 genus)

2. Helioporidae (1 genus)

ORDER ALCYONACEA (29 families, ca. 229 genera); skeletal components composed

of calcite and gorgonin, rarely with some aragonite.

Polyps as individuals, which may or may not be united by basal stolons

Polyps solitary

3. Taiaroidae (1 genus)

4. Haimeidae (2 genera)

Polyps connected to other polyps by basal stolons

5. Cornulariidae (1or 2 genera)

6. Clavulariidae (17 or 18 genera)

7. Tubiporidae (1 genus)

8. Coelogorgiidae (1 genus)

9. Pseudogorgiidae (1 genus)

Polyps contained in massive bodies to form a coherent colony

10. Paralcyoniidae (4 genera)

11. Alcyoniidae (22 genera)

12. Nephtheidae (18 genera)

13. Nidaliidae (8 genera)

14. Xeniidae (13-14 genera)

with free axial spicules

without consolidated axis (with a medulla and cortex)

15. Briareidae (2 genera)

16. Anthothelidae (12 genera)

17. Subergorgiidae (2 genera)

18. Paragorgiidae (2 genera)

with consolidated axis

19. Coralliidae (1 or 2 genera)

20. Melithaeidae (5 nominal genera); branches from flexible proteinaceous

nodes.

21. Parisididae (1 genus); branches from calcareous internodes.

Suborder Holaxonia - axis without free axial spicules; and with hollow cross-

chambered central core

22. Keroeididae (5 genera)

23. Acanthogorgiidae (7 nominal genera)

24. Plexauridae (36 genera)

25. Gorgoniidae (13 genera)

Suborder Calcaxonia - axis without free axial spicules; and without hollow cross-

chambered central core)

26. Ellisellidae (10 genera)

27. Ifalukellidae (2 genera)

28. Chrysogorgiidae (12 genera)

29. Primnoidae (28 genera)

30. Isididae (38 genera)

Incertae sedis

Dendrobrachiidae (1 genus); with spiny axis (formerly

aligned with Antipatharia)

Acanthoaxiidae (1 genus)

ORDER PENNATULACEA (14 families, 34 genera); colony composed of an oozooid

with basal peduncle an polyp-bearing rachis.

without polyp leaves

32. Veretillidae (5 genera)

33. Echinoptilidae (2 genera)

34. Renillidae (1 genus)

35. Kophobelemnidae (3 genera)

36. Anthoptilidae (1 genus)

37. Funiculinidae (1 genus)

38. Protoptilidae (3 genera)

39. Stachyptilidae (1 genus)

40. Scleroptilidae (2 genera)

41. Chunellidae (2 genera)

42. Umbellulidae (1 genus)

43. Halipteridae (1 genus)

with polyp leaves

44. Virgulariidae (6 genera)

45. Pennatulidae (6 genera)