Synonyms
Alcyonaria (this term is now rarely used). Common names: Gorgonians; Octocorals; Sea fans; Sea pens; Sea whips; Soft corals
Definition
Octocorallia (also known as octocorals, or in earlier times “Alcyonaria”) are a subclass of the class Anthozoa, in the phylum Cnidaria. They are sessile polyp-bearing animals with a mobile larval phase that are only found in marine systems. The distinguishing characteristic of this subclass is that their polyps always bear eight tentacles (hence octo-coral), which are usually (but not always) fringed along both edges by one or more rows of pinnules. The gastrovascular cavities are typically subdivided by eight septa.
Introduction
Octocorals are a major component of the sessile benthic fauna of many coral reefs. Like Scleractinian corals, they are modular (colonial) organisms which develop through asexual replication and specialization of polyps. In contrast to Scleractinian corals (the primary reef building corals), most octocorals do not...
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Acknowledgments
Many thanks to Phil Alderslade for improving the manuscript.
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Fabricius, K. (2011). Octocorallia. In: Hopley, D. (eds) Encyclopedia of Modern Coral Reefs. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-2639-2_35
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