''Briareum'' is a
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...
of
soft coral
Alcyonacea, or soft corals, are an order of corals. In addition to the fleshy soft corals, the order Alcyonacea now contains all species previously known as "gorgonian corals", that produce a more or less hard skeleton, though quite different f ...
s in the family
Briareidae
Briareidae is a family of corals, a member of the phylum Cnidaria
Cnidaria () is a phylum under kingdom Animalia containing over 11,000 species of aquatic animals found both in freshwater and marine environments, predominantly the latter ...
. The coral is cultivated by aquarium owners for its fluorescing polyps, which reveal themselves under
actinic light
Actinism () is the property of solar radiation that leads to the production of photochemical and photobiological effects. ''Actinism'' is derived from the Ancient Greek ἀκτίς, ἀκτῖνος ("ray, beam"). The word ''actinism'' is found, ...
. The genus is in need of extensive examination, as many specimens sold by marketers display unique and similar characteristics, but are often labeled as one species, ''Pachyclavularia violacea''.
Species
The following species are recognized within the genus:
* ''
Briareum asbestinum
''Briareum'' is a genus of soft corals in the family Briareidae. The coral is cultivated by aquarium owners for its fluorescing polyps, which reveal themselves under actinic light. The genus is in need of extensive examination, as many specimens ...
''
(Pallas, 1766)
* ''
Briareum contortum
''Briareum'' is a genus of soft corals in the family Briareidae. The coral is cultivated by aquarium owners for its fluorescing polyps, which reveal themselves under actinic light. The genus is in need of extensive examination, as many specimens ...
''
(Kükenthal, 1906)
* ''
Briareum cylindrum
''Briareum'' is a genus of soft corals in the family Briareidae. The coral is cultivated by aquarium owners for its fluorescing polyps, which reveal themselves under actinic light. The genus is in need of extensive examination, as many specimens ...
''
Samimi-Namin & van Ofwegen, 2016
* ''
Briareum hamrum
''Briareum'' is a genus of soft corals in the family Briareidae. The coral is cultivated by aquarium owners for its fluorescing polyps, which reveal themselves under actinic light. The genus is in need of extensive examination, as many specimens ...
''
(Gohar, 1948)
* ''
Briareum palmachristi
''Briareum'' is a genus of soft corals in the family Briareidae. The coral is cultivated by aquarium owners for its fluorescing polyps, which reveal themselves under actinic light. The genus is in need of extensive examination, as many specimens ...
''
Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1860
* ''
Briareum stechei''
(Kükenthal, 1908)
* ''
Briareum violaceum
''Briareum violaceum'', commonly called star polyp, is a species of a soft coral
Alcyonacea, or soft corals, are an order of corals. In addition to the fleshy soft corals, the order Alcyonacea now contains all species previously known as "go ...
''
(Quoy & Gaimard, 1833)
References
Briareidae
Octocorallia genera
{{Octocorallia-stub