''Capnella'' 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 ...

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 Nephtheidae. They are also commonly known as Kenya tree corals.

Species

*'' Capnella arbuscula'' Verseveldt, 1977 *''

Capnella australiensis ''Capnella'' is a genus of soft corals in the family Nephtheidae. They are also commonly known as Kenya tree corals. Species *'' Capnella arbuscula'' Verseveldt, 1977 *'' Capnella australiensis'' (Thorpe, 1928) *'' Capnella bouilloni'' Versevel ...

'' (Thorpe, 1928) *'' Capnella bouilloni'' Verseveldt, 1976 *'' Capnella erecta'' Verseveldt, 1977 *'' Capnella fructosa'' *''

Capnella fungiformis ''Capnella'' is a genus of soft corals in the family Nephtheidae. They are also commonly known as Kenya tree corals. Species *''Capnella arbuscula'' Verseveldt, 1977 *''Capnella australiensis'' (Thorpe, 1928) *''Capnella bouilloni'' Verseveldt, ...

'' Kükenthal, 1903 *'' Capnella gaboensis'' Verseveldt, 1977 *''

Capnella garetti ''Capnella'' is a genus of soft corals in the family Nephtheidae. They are also commonly known as Kenya tree corals. Species *''Capnella arbuscula'' Verseveldt, 1977 *''Capnella australiensis'' (Thorpe, 1928) *''Capnella bouilloni'' Verseveldt, ...

'' Verseveldt, 1977 *''

Capnella imbricata ''Capnella'' is a genus of soft corals in the family Nephtheidae. They are also commonly known as Kenya tree corals. Species *'' Capnella arbuscula'' Verseveldt, 1977 *'' Capnella australiensis'' (Thorpe, 1928) *'' Capnella bouilloni'' Versevel ...

'' (Quoy & Gaimard, 1833) *''

Capnella johnstonei ''Capnella'' is a genus of soft corals in the family Nephtheidae. They are also commonly known as Kenya tree corals. Species *'' Capnella arbuscula'' Verseveldt, 1977 *'' Capnella australiensis'' (Thorpe, 1928) *'' Capnella bouilloni'' Versevel ...

'' Verseveldt, 1977 *''

Capnella lacertiliensis ''Capnella'' is a genus of soft corals in the family Nephtheidae. They are also commonly known as Kenya tree corals. Species *'' Capnella arbuscula'' Verseveldt, 1977 *'' Capnella australiensis'' (Thorpe, 1928) *'' Capnella bouilloni'' Versevel ...

'' Macfadyen *''

Capnella parva ''Capnella'' is a genus of soft corals in the family Nephtheidae. They are also commonly known as Kenya tree corals. Species *'' Capnella arbuscula'' Verseveldt, 1977 *'' Capnella australiensis'' (Thorpe, 1928) *'' Capnella bouilloni'' Versevel ...

'' Light, 1913 *''

Capnella portlandensis ''Capnella'' is a genus of soft corals in the family Nephtheidae. They are also commonly known as Kenya tree corals. Species *'' Capnella arbuscula'' Verseveldt, 1977 *'' Capnella australiensis'' (Thorpe, 1928) *'' Capnella bouilloni'' Versevel ...

'' Verseveldt, 1977 *''

Capnella ramosa ''Capnella'' is a genus of soft corals in the family Nephtheidae. They are also commonly known as Kenya tree corals. Species *'' Capnella arbuscula'' Verseveldt, 1977 *'' Capnella australiensis'' (Thorpe, 1928) *'' Capnella bouilloni'' Versevel ...

'' Light, 1913 *''

Capnella sabangensis ''Capnella'' is a genus of soft corals in the family Nephtheidae. They are also commonly known as Kenya tree corals. Species *'' Capnella arbuscula'' Verseveldt, 1977 *'' Capnella australiensis'' (Thorpe, 1928) *'' Capnella bouilloni'' Versevel ...

'' Roxas, 1933 *''

Capnella shepherdi ''Capnella'' is a genus of soft corals in the family Nephtheidae. They are also commonly known as Kenya tree corals. Species *'' Capnella arbuscula'' Verseveldt, 1977 *'' Capnella australiensis'' (Thorpe, 1928) *'' Capnella bouilloni'' Versevel ...

'' Verseveldt, 1977 *''

Capnella spicata ''Capnella'' is a genus of soft corals in the family Nephtheidae. They are also commonly known as Kenya tree corals. Species *'' Capnella arbuscula'' Verseveldt, 1977 *'' Capnella australiensis'' (Thorpe, 1928) *'' Capnella bouilloni'' Versevel ...

'' (May) *''

Capnella susanae ''Capnella'' is a genus of soft corals in the family Nephtheidae. They are also commonly known as Kenya tree corals. Species *'' Capnella arbuscula'' Verseveldt, 1977 *'' Capnella australiensis'' (Thorpe, 1928) *'' Capnella bouilloni'' Versevel ...

'' Williams, 1988 *''

Capnella thyrsoidea ''Capnella'' is a genus of soft corals in the family Nephtheidae. They are also commonly known as Kenya tree corals. Species *''Capnella arbuscula'' Verseveldt, 1977 *''Capnella australiensis'' (Thorpe, 1928) *''Capnella bouilloni'' Verseveldt, ...

'' (Verrill, 1989) *''

Capnella watsonae ''Capnella'' is a genus of soft corals in the family Nephtheidae. They are also commonly known as Kenya tree corals. Species *'' Capnella arbuscula'' Verseveldt, 1977 *'' Capnella australiensis'' (Thorpe, 1928) *'' Capnella bouilloni'' Versevel ...

'' Verseveldt, 1977

Description

Capnella are arborescent, some species are lobed. Generally they are grey with brown polyps. Colour intensity is dependent on light intensity, the higher the intensity of light, the lighter colour of the coral. They form thick trunks with branches that closely resemble trees. In stronger currents they form flatter colonies with shorter branches.

Distribution and habitats

Kenya Tree

coral Corals are marine invertebrates within the class Anthozoa of the phylum Cnidaria. They typically form compact colonies of many identical individual polyps. Coral species include the important reef builders that inhabit tropical oceans and ...

s are widespread throughout the Indo-pacific region, from the African coast to the Western Pacific. They are found on coral

reef A reef is a ridge or shoal of rock, coral or similar relatively stable material, lying beneath the surface of a natural body of water. Many reefs result from natural, abiotic processes— deposition of sand, wave erosion planing down rock o ...

slopes in clear water from deep to the shallows with strong tidal currents. Sometimes found in shadier places and on coral rubble in shallow water close to the shore.

Biology

They have symbiotic algae from which they obtain most of their nutrients. Asexual reproduction has been observed. They form distinctive swellings at bottom of a branch which then drops off by fission at the swelling. The branch then secures to a new hold and forms a new colony. They can stick very quickly and will be firmly rooted within a day. Colonies can bend and reattach to the rock or by “creeping” and division at the base.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1453388 Nephtheidae Octocorallia genera Taxa named by John Edward Gray