Non-native coral species dominate the fouling community on a semi-submersible platform in the southern Caribbean.

A coral community was examined on a semi-submersible platform that was moored at the leeward side of Curaçao, in the southern Caribbean, from August 2016 until August 2017. This community included several non-native or cryptogenic species. Among them were two scleractinian corals (Tubastraea coccinea and T.

On some encrusting Xeniidae (Octocorallia): Re-examination of the type material of Sansibia flava (May, 1898) and a description of new taxa.

The type of the xeniid soft coral Sansibia flava (May, 1898) is re-described for the first time and its morphological diagnosis is presented. A subsequent integrated analysis of molecular and morphological characters of related Xeniidae, including species indigenous to the Indo-Pacific Ocean and invasive in the Atlantic (Brazil), led to the description of a new Sansibia species, as well as two new genera comprising an additional three new species. All of these taxa are encrusting, with polyps arising directly from a spreading basal membrane.

Revisiting the type of Cespitularia stolonifera/ Gohar, 1938 leads to the description of a new genus and a species of the family Xeniidae (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea).

Because of the problematical identity and status of the type of the xeniid soft coral genus Cespitularia Milne-Edwards Haime, 1850, the species C. stolonifera Gohar, 1938 is revised. Examination of the type colonies has led to the establishment of the new genus Unomia gen.

The genus Litophyton Forskål, 1775 (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) from Australia.

The Litophyton species of Australia are described. Of the 33 species dealt with three were previously described and 30 are considered new. For convenience the species described are divided into five distinct morphological groups.

A revision of the genus Calcigorgia (Cnidaria, Octocorallia, Acanthogorgiidae) with the description of three new species.

Octocorals of the Acanthogorgiid genus Calcigorgia have been examined, from Japan, Sea of Okhotsk, and Bering Sea. The four known species are re-described and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of sclerites presented. Three other species are described and depicted, bringing the total number of Calcigorgia species to seven.

A new name for Dendronephthya kukenthali Gravier, 1908 (Octocorallia, Nephtheidae): Dendronephthya perezi nom. n.

The World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) is an online resource, which provides the most comprehensive database of scientific names of marine organisms (WoRMS, 2018). WoRMS is regularly retrieved by multidisciplinary researchers around the globe, regarded as a source of reliable taxonomic information. The database is continuously improved by taxonomic experts, which frequently have to address issues raised by users and other editors (Costello et al.

Evaluating the genus MilneEdwards & Haime, 1850 with descriptions of new genera of the family Xeniidae (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea).

Several species of the family Xeniidae, previously assigned to the genus Milne Edwards & Haime, 1850 are revised. Based on the problematical identity and status of the type of this genus, it became apparent that the literature has introduced misperceptions concerning its diagnosis. A consequent examination of the type colonies of May, 1898 has led to the establishment of the new genus and similarly to the assignment of Thomson & Dean, 1931 to the new genus, Both new genera are described and depicted and both feature unique sclerite morphology, further highlighting the importance of sclerite microstructure for generic position among Xeniidae.

Revisionary systematics of the endemic soft coral fauna (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Alcyoniina) of the Agulhas Bioregion, South Africa.

The Agulhas Bioregion of southern South Africa supports a unique octocoral fauna that is entirely endemic to the region. Recent molecular phylogenetic studies indicate that this endemism extends to deeper taxonomic levels than had previously been recognized, and that most of these endemic species belong to genera and families that are also endemic to South Africa. Here we revise the taxonomy of soft corals (subordinal group Alcyoniina) that were previously assigned to the cosmopolitan families Alcyoniidae, Nephtheidae and Nidaliidae, describing three new families endemic to South Africa, along with four new genera and four new species.

Search for mesophotic octocorals (Cnidaria, Anthozoa) and their phylogeny. II. A new zooxanthellate species from Eilat, northern Red Sea.

An octocoral survey conducted in the mesophotic coral ecosystem (MCE) of Eilat (Gulf of Aqaba, northern Red Sea) yielded a new species of the speciose reef-dwelling genus . It features encrusting colony morphology with a thin, funnel-shaped polypary. (family Alcyoniidae) is described and compared to the other congeners with similar morphology.

A new species of (Anthozoa, Octocorallia, Melithaeidae) from the Oman Sea, off Oman.

A new species, , is described from the eastern coast of Oman, Oman Sea, in the northwestern Indian Ocean, where it differs from its congeners in lacking capstans and having predominantly spindles in the coenenchyme. A molecular phylogenetic analysis of mtMutS and 28S rDNA genes suggests that it is genetically distinct from similar species in the Red Sea. Furthermore, a species previously reported as sp.

Species of Elasmogorgia and Euplexaura (Cnidaria, Octocorallia) from Japan with a discussion about the genus Filigella.

Octocorals with thread-like colony shape have been re-examined, mainly from Japanese waters. The holotypes of Elasmogorgia filiformis and Filigella boninensis and a syntype of Filigella mitsukurii have been studied. Euplexaura arbuscula is identified and Euplexaura yayoii sp.

The genus Bebryce (Cnidaria, Octocorallia, Plexauridae) at Japan, with descriptions of three new species.

Three new deep-water species of Bebryce from Japan are described and depicted using Scanning Electron Microscopy: Bebryce otsuchiensis sp. n., Bebryce rotunda sp.

A revision of Trimuricea Gordon, 1926 (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Plexauridae) with the description of six new species.

The genus Trimuricea Gordon, 1926 is revised. An overview and identification key of all presently known Trimuricea species is given. The type material of Trimuricea africana Gordon, 1926, T.

Sinularia polydactyla (Ehrenberg, 1834) (Cnidaria, Octocorallia) re-examined, with the description of a new species.

Sinularia polydactyla (Ehrenberg, 1834) is re-described and a lectotype assigned. This led to examination of related material from various Indo-Pacific regions. Consequently, Sinularia levi sp.

The genus Litophyton Forskål, 1775 (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea, Nephtheidae) in the Red Sea and the western Indian Ocean.

The Litophyton species of the Red Sea and the western Indian Ocean are revised, which includes species previously belonging to the genus Nephthea, which is synonymized with Litophyton. A neotype for both Litophyton arboreum, the type species of Litophyton, and Nephthea chabrolii, the type species of Nephthea, are designated. The new species Litophyton curvum sp.

Overview of the genus Briareum (Cnidaria, Octocorallia, Briareidae) in the Indo-Pacific, with the description of a new species.

The status of Indo-Pacific Briareum species (Cnidaria, Octocorallia, Briareidae) is reviewed by presenting their sclerite features and habitus descriptions. Following the re-examination of type material, museum specimens and newly collected specimens, a species identification key is provided. The species distributions are discussed and updated distribution ranges are depicted.

Melithaeidae of Japan (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea) re-examined with descriptions of 11 new species.

Japanese melithaeid type material is re-examined and re-described. The sclerites of the different species are depicted using Scanning Electron Microscopy. All Japanese species of the family Melithaeidae treated here belong to the genus Melithaea and are endemic to Japanese waters.

A new genus of soft coral (Cnidaria, Octocorallia) from the Republic of Congo (Pointe-Noire Region).

A new genus of soft coral from the Republic of Congo is described, Complexum gen. n. Nine West African octocoral species previously described in the genus Alcyonium by Tixier-Durivault (1955) are referred to this new genus, and a new species is described and figured, Complexumpusillum sp.

Molecular phylogenetic evidence supports a new family of octocorals and a new genus of Alcyoniidae (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea).

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, Parasphaerasclera gen.

Sinularia leptoclados (Ehrenberg, 1834) (Cnidaria, Octocorallia) re-examined.

Sinularia leptoclados (Ehrenberg, 1834) is re-described. Sinularia leptoclados var. gonatodes Kolonko, 1926 is synonymized with Sinularia maxima Verseveldt, 1977.

The magnitude of global marine species diversity.

Background: The question of how many marine species exist is important because it provides a metric for how much we do and do not know about life in the oceans. We have compiled the first register of the marine species of the world and used this baseline to estimate how many more species, partitioned among all major eukaryotic groups, may be discovered.

Results: There are ∼226,000 eukaryotic marine species described.

Fish, fans and hydroids: host species of pygmy seahorses.

An overview of the octocoral and hydrozoan host species of pygmy seahorses is provided based on literature records and recently collected field data for Hippocampus bargibanti, Hippocampus denise and Hippocampus pontohi. Seven new associations are recognized and an overview of the so far documented host species is given. A detailed re-examination of octocoral type material and a review of the taxonomic history of the alcyonacean genera Annella (Subergorgiidae) and Muricella (Acanthogorgiidae) are included as baseline for future revisions.

Patterns of distribution of calcite crystals in soft corals sclerites.

The gross morphology of soft coral surface sclerites has been studied for taxonomic purposes for over a century. In contrast, sclerites located deep in the core of colonies have not received attention. Some soft coral groups develop massive colonies, in these organisms tissue depth can limit light penetration and circulation of internal fluids affecting the physiology of coral tissues and their symbiotic algae; such conditions have the potential to create contrasting calcifying conditions.