Sphaerasclera
- Dataset
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy
- Rank
- GENUS
- Published in
- McFadden, Catherine S., Ofwegen, Leen P. van (2013): Molecular phylogenetic evidence supports a new family of octocorals and a new genus of Alcyoniidae (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea). ZooKeys 346: 59-83, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.346.6270, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.346.6270
Classification
- kingdom
- Animalia
- phylum
- Cnidaria
- class
- Anthozoa
- order
- Malacalcyonacea
- family
- Alcyoniidae
- genus
- Sphaerasclera
diagnosis
Diagnosis. 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.
etymology
Etymology. From the Latin / Greek sphaera- meaning a sphere or ball and Greek sclero-, hard, denoting the large, spheroidal sclerites that characterize this genus. Gender: fem.