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)