Some shallow water octocorals (Coelenterata: Anthozoa) of the Persian Gulf Author Namin, Samimi Author Ofwegen, Van text Zootaxa 2009 2058 1 52 journal article 10.5281/zenodo.186743 ec14c88f-d887-4567-a824-dbf1078cda03 1175-5326 186743 Paraplexaura sp. ( Figs. 13 g, 30) Material: RMNH Coel. 38907, one colony fragment, Strait of Hormuz , Qeshm Island, 18 May 2006 ; a fragment has been deposited in the Persian Gulf Biotechnology Research Center. FIGURE 28. RMNH Coel. 38784, Menella cf. kanisa Grasshoff, 2000 : a, point spindles; b, collaret spindle; c-d, capstans and spindles of the subsurface layer; e, leaf spindles of surface layer; f, rooted leaves of surface layer. Scale at d applies to d–e. FIGURE 29. RMNH Coel. 38784, Menella cf. kanisa Grasshoff, 2000 : a, rooted leaves of surface layer; b, subsurface layer branched bodies. FIGURE 30. RMNH Coel. 38907, Paraplexaura sp.: a, thornscales and unilateral spinose bodies of surface layer; b, capstan derivative of the subsurface layer; c, spindles, capstans, and capstan derivatives of the subsurface layer. Scale at a also applies to b. Description. The colony is 12 cm long and 2.5 cm wide, and sparsely branched ( Fig. 13 g). No calyces are present, polyp openings closely set to each other, and situated all around the branches. The polyps have no sclerites. Surface layer of coenenchyme with thornscales and unilateral spinose bodies, up to 0.50 mm long ( Fig. 30 a). Inner layer of coenenchyme has spindles, capstans, and capstan derivatives ( Fig 30 b–c); the capstans and derivatives are up to 0.10 mm long, the spindles up to 0.35 mm . Colour. The colony and sclerites are yellow. Remarks. Without thorough revision of the genus Paraplexaura we consider it impossible to identify species of this genus with any certainty.