A revision of the genus Psammogorgia Verrill, 1868 (Cnidaria, Anthozoa, Octocorallia) in the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean

By

Breedy, Odalisca
Guzman, Hector M.

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2020

Original Publication

Zoosystematics and evolution

Volume

961

Pages

1--30

Subjects

Biodiversity , gorgonians , key to plexaurid genera , octocoral , Plexauridae , taxonomic review , taxonomy

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia Pensoft

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.961.54846

 

Abstract

The species of the genusPsammogorgiaVerrill, 1868 from the shallow waters of the tropical eastern Pacific were mainly described from 1846 to 1870. Very few contributions were published subsequently. Recently, the genus was revisited with the addition of two new species. However, a comprehensive generic study is still missing for the eastern Pacific.Psammogorgiais characterised by having axes cores without mineralisation, mainly coarse irregular spindles and thorny, leafy or tuberculate clubs coenenchymal sclerites and the anthocodial armature with distinct collaret and points arrangements. Herein a taxonomic revision of the genus is presented based on type material which was morphologically analysed and illustrated using optical and scanning electron microscopy. Comparative character tables are provided for comparison among species in the genus, along with a taxonomic key. Moreover, the taxonomic status of each species was analysed. The genusPsammogorgiacomprises six valid species and two varieties, and three lectotypes and a new combination are proposed to establish the taxonomic status of these species.