Integrative phylogenomic and morphological evidence for Pseudothelogorgiidae fam. nov., with a redescription of Pseudothelogorgia hartogi (Octocorallia, Malacalcyonacea)

By

Samimi-Namin, Kaveh
Mcfadden, Catherine S

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2025-11-28

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

1261

Pages

201--221

Subjects

Arabian Sea , deep-water corals , Indian Ocean , mesophotic , new family , Oman , systematics , taxonomy , ultraconserved elements (UCEs)

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1261.171874

 

Abstract

<br> The octocoral genus<br> Pseudothelogorgia<br> van Ofwegen, 1994 has presented taxonomic challenges since its original description, with its higher-level placement uncertain and obscured by morphological convergence and lack of molecular data. Here, we integrate detailed morphological examination with phylogenomic analyses of newly collected shallow-water specimens from the Gulf of Oman, alongside a redescription of the type material. Our results recover<br> Pseudothelogorgia<br> as a deeply divergent lineage within Malacalcyonacea, sister to Plexauridae but unrelated to Keroeididae, the family in which it was formerly placed. Distinct morphological characters, together with strong phylogenomic support, warrant the establishment of Pseudothelogorgiidae<br> fam. nov.<br> The shallow-water occurrences documented here extend the known depth range of the genus from mesophotic to shallow reef habitats, indicating ecological plasticity and highlighting the need for targeted exploration of under-surveyed Indian Ocean coral assemblages.<br>