A review of gorgonian coral species (Cnidaria, Octocorallia, Alcyonacea) held in the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History research collection: focus on species from Scleraxonia, Holaxonia, Calcaxonia - Part II: Species of Holaxonia, families Gorgoniidae and Plexauridae
Author
Horvath, Elizabeth Anne
text
ZooKeys
2019
860
67
182
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.860.33597
journal article
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.860.33597
1313-2970-860-67
128BC1830A6A423488931CBD2D2AF962
Genus
Eugorgia Verrill, 1868
Lophogorgia
(pars) Horn, 1860: 233.
Gorgonia
(pars) Verrill, 1864: 33; 1866: 327.
Leptogorgia
Verrill, 1864: 32.
Eugorgia
(pars) Verrill, 1868c: 414.
Eugorgia
Verrill, 1868b: 406-407.
Studer 1887
: 64-65.
Bielschowsky 1918
: 39.
Kuekenthal
1924
: 343.
Bielschowsky 1929
: 170.
Stiasny 1951
: 63.
Bayer 1951
: 99;
1981
: 921.
Breedy et al. 2009
: 8.
Type species.
Leptogorgia ampla
Verrill, 1864; by subsequent designation
Verrill 1868b
: 386.
Diagnosis.
Breedy et al. (2009)
did a thorough review of this genus (well represented in the SBMNH collection). Sclerites chiefly disc spindles, capstans or double discs (wheels); double discs up to 0.05 mm long, spindles 0.12-0.18 mm, not developed as clubs; ordinary spindles present in small numbers in some species. Anthocodiae unarmed; sclerites, if present, flat rods and platelets with lobed margins. Polyps fully retractile into coenenchyme, slightly raised to prominent mounds, forming polyp-mounds, in longitudinal rows; often evenly distributed on all sides of branches. Branching is lateral, dichotomous (partial) or pinnate-like, in one plane; if bushy, branches in multiple planes; no anastomoses. Axis contains network of frequently mineralized organic filaments. Colony colors quite variable, depending on species.