''Pseudonephthea'' is a genus of

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 sec ...

s containing the only species ''Pseudonephthea liltvedi'', or the stalked cauliflower soft coral. It is a cnidarian that is endemic to the coast of South Africa.

Description

Colonies, which may consist of several stems, rise from a single base. The colonies range between and in size. They form erect, cauliflower-like forms with the polyps closely clustered at the ends of short, narrow branches. The bundles of polyps are supported by cup-like structures and do not have. The colonies are variable in colour and usually range from white ir pale beige to pink and orange. They may look similar to species belonging to ''

Eunephthya ''Eunephthya'' is a genus of soft corals in the family Nephtheidae Nephtheidae is a family of soft corals in the phylum Cnidaria. Members of this family are known as carnation corals, tree corals or colt soft corals. They are very attractive ...

''. ''Eunephthya'' species, however, have branches of equal width (opposed to a range of ranch thicknesses found in ''Pseudonephthea liltvedi).''

Distribution and habitat

This species is endemic to the Benguela region off the west coast of

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

. They lack zooxanthellae, which allows them to grow in deeper regions as they do not rely on the associated photosynthesis for sustenance. They are found in temperate waters at a depth of .

Taxonomy

This species was considered to belong to the genus ''

Gersemia ''Gersemia'' is a genus of soft corals in the family Nephtheidae. Species in this genus are found in cold temperate and polar seas at depths ranging from to over . The type species is '' Gersemia loricata''. Characteristics Colonies of ''Gersem ...

'' until 2022. Following a phylogenomic study it was moved into its own genus and its own family to reflect its unique

phylogeny A phylogenetic tree (also phylogeny or evolutionary tree Felsenstein J. (2004). ''Inferring Phylogenies'' Sinauer Associates: Sunderland, MA.) is a branching diagram or a tree showing the evolutionary relationships among various biological spec ...

and

morphology Morphology, from the Greek and meaning "study of shape", may refer to: Disciplines *Morphology (archaeology), study of the shapes or forms of artifacts *Morphology (astronomy), study of the shape of astronomical objects such as nebulae, galaxies, ...

. The family and genus name pay tribute to its former misclassification to two different genera in the family

Nephtheidae Nephtheidae is a family of soft corals in the phylum Cnidaria. Members of this family are known as carnation corals, tree corals or colt soft corals. They are very attractive and show a wide range of rich and pastel colours including reds, pinks ...

References

{{Taxonbar, from1=Q115966901, from2=Q115968099 Animals described in 1988 Fauna of South Africa Octocorallia Monotypic cnidarian genera