''Melithaea'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

octocoral Octocorallia (also known as Alcyonaria) is a class of Anthozoa comprising around 3,000 species of water-based organisms formed of colonial polyps with 8-fold symmetry. It includes the blue coral, soft corals, sea pens, and gorgonians (sea fans ...

s in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Melithaeidae ''Melithaeidae'' is a family of corals in the suborder Scleraxonia. Members of the family are commonly known as sea fans and are found on reefs in the tropical regions of the Indo-Pacific.type species In zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the species name with which the name of a genus or subgenus is considered to be permanently taxonomically associated, i.e., the species that contains the biological type specimen ...

is ''

Melithaea ochracea ''Melithaea ochracea'' is a species of colonial soft coral in the family Melithaeidae, commonly known as knotted fan coral. It grows in tree-like fans on coral reefs in the South China Sea. It is used in the jewellery industry under the name red ...

''.''Melithaea''
Marine Species Identification Portal. Retrieved 2012-02-22.

Description

Members of the genus ''Melithaea'' are arborescent

colonial Colonial or The Colonial may refer to: * Colonial, of, relating to, or characteristic of a colony or colony (biology) Architecture * American colonial architecture * French Colonial * Spanish Colonial architecture Automobiles * Colonial (1920 au ...

corals forming fan, bush or tree shapes. The axis or main skeletal "trunk" is jointed, there being nodes, flexible horny joints, separated by internodes composed of hard, calcareous material. The branches divide off at the nodes which are often swollen. The minute calcareous spicules in the flexible membrane called the

mesoglea Mesoglea refers to the extracellular matrix found in cnidarians like coral or jellyfish that functions as a hydrostatic skeleton. It is related to but distinct from mesohyl, which generally refers to extracellular material found in sponges. Descr ...

that covers the skeleton are called

sclerite A sclerite (Greek , ', meaning "hard") is a hardened body part. In various branches of biology the term is applied to various structures, but not as a rule to vertebrate anatomical features such as bones and teeth. Instead it refers most commonly ...

s. The identity of these spicules is important for identification purposes and in this genus they are predominantly double discs and small disc-spindles, but also include plain spindles, capstans and small clubs. Members of this genus do not have the unicellular

symbiotic Symbiosis (from Greek , , "living together", from , , "together", and , bíōsis, "living") is any type of a close and long-term biological interaction between two different biological organisms, be it mutualistic, commensalistic, or parasit ...

algae

Zooxanthellae Zooxanthellae is a colloquial term for single-celled dinoflagellates that are able to live in symbiosis with diverse marine invertebrates including demosponges, corals, jellyfish, and nudibranchs. Most known zooxanthellae are in the genus ''Sy ...

in their tissues that many other corals do. Colonies vary in colour but tend to be shades of yellow, orange, red and brown.

Ecological significance

These corals are one of several genera of sea fan that can be hosts to a species of

pygmy seahorse The pygmy seahorses comprise several species of tiny seahorse in the syngnathid family or Syngnathidae (seahorses and pipefish). Family Syngnathidae is part of order Syngnathiformes, which contains fishes with fused jaws that suck food into tubu ...

, the Denise's pygmy seahorse ''(Hippocampus denise).''

Species

The World Register of Marine Species includes the following

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

in the genus: *'' Melithaea acuta'' (Gray, 1870) *'' Melithaea africana'' (Kükenthal, 1908) *''

Melithaea akalyx ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is ''Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea albitincta ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is '' Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea amboinensis'' (Hentschel, 1903) *''

Melithaea andamanensis ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is '' Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea arborea'' (Kükenthal, 1908) *''

Melithaea atrorubens ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is '' Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea aurantia ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is '' Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea australis ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is '' Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea baladea ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is '' Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea bicolor ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is '' Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea biserialis ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is '' Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea boninensis ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is '' Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea braueri ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is '' Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea caledonica ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is '' Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea capensis ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is '' Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea cinquemiglia ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is '' Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea clavigera ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is '' Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea coccinea ''Melithaea'' is a genus of Octocorallia, octocorals in the family (biology), family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is ''Melithaea ochracea'' ...

'' (Ellis & Solander, 1786) *''

Melithaea contorta ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is ''Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea corymbosa ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is ''Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea delicata'' (Hickson, 1940) *''

Melithaea dichotoma ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is ''Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea divaricata'' (Gray, 1859) *''

Melithaea doederleini ''Melithaea'' is a genus of Octocorallia, octocorals in the family (biology), family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is ''Melithaea ochracea'' ...

'' Matsumoto & van Ofwegen, 2015 *'' Melithaea dubia'' (Broch, 1916) *''

Melithaea ellisi ''Melithaea'' is a genus of Octocorallia, octocorals in the family (biology), family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is ''Melithaea ochracea'' ...

'' (Hickson, 1937) *'' Melithaea elongata'' (Gray, 1859) *'' Melithaea erythraea'' (Ehrenberg, 1834) *''

Melithaea esperi ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is ''Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea flabellata ''Melithaea'' is a genus of Octocorallia, octocorals in the family (biology), family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is ''Melithaea ochracea'' ...

'' (Gray, 1870) *''

Melithaea flabellum ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is ''Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea formosa'' (Nutting, 1911) *''

Melithaea fragilis ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is ''Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea frondosa'' (Brundin, 1896) *'' Melithaea furcata'' (Thomson, 1916) *'' Melithaea gracilis'' (Gray, 1859) *'' Melithaea gracillima'' (Ridley, 1884) *'' Melithaea haddoni'' (Hickson, 1937) *''

Melithaea harbereri ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is '' Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea hendersoni ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is ''Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea hicksoni ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is ''Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea isonoi'' Matsumoto & van Ofwegen, 2015 *''

Melithaea japonica ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is ''Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea keramaensis ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is '' Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea klunzingeri ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is ''Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea kuea ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is ''Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea laevis ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is ''Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea linearis ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is ''Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea mabahissi'' (Hickson, 1940) *''

Melithaea maldivensis ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is ''Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea mcqueeni ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is '' Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea mertoni'' (Kükenthal, 1909) *'' Melithaea modesta'' (Nutting, 1911) *'' Melithaea moluccana'' (Kükenthal, 1896) *'' Melithaea mutsu'' (Minobe, 1929) *''

Melithaea nodosa ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is ''Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea nuttingi'' (Hickson, 1937) *''

Melithaea occidentalis ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is ''Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea ochracea ''Melithaea ochracea'' is a species of colonial soft coral in the family Melithaeidae, commonly known as knotted fan coral. It grows in tree-like fans on coral reefs in the South China Sea. It is used in the jewellery industry under the name red ...

'' (Linnaeus, 1785) *''

Melithaea omanensis ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is ''Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea ornata ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is ''Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea ouvea'' (Grasshoff, 1999) *'' Melithaea oyeni'' Matsumoto & van Ofwegen, 2015 *''

Melithaea philippinensis ''Melithaea philippinensis'' is a coral, a member of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. it is native the Philippine The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipin ...

'' (Wright & Studer, 1889) *'' Melithaea planiloca'' (Ridley, 1888) *'' Melithaea planoregularis'' (Kükenthal, 1909) *''

Melithaea pulchella ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is '' Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea pulchra'' (Hickson, 1937) *''

Melithaea ramulosa ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is '' Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea retifera ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is ''Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea robusta ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is '' Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea roemeri'' (Kükenthal, 1908) *''

Melithaea rubeola ''Melithaea'' is a genus of Octocorallia, octocorals in the family (biology), family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is ''Melithaea ochracea'' ...

'' (Wright & Studer, 1889) *''

Melithaea rubra The multicoloured sea fan (''Melithaea rubra)'' is a species of gorgonian sea fan in the family Melithaeidae. Description The sea fan colony grows up to about 30 cm high, with branches of between 2 and 4 mm. It is bushy with thin cyli ...

'' (Esper, 1789) *'' Melithaea rubrinodis'' (Gray, 1859) *'' Melithaea rugosa'' (Wright & Studer, 1889) *'' Melithaea ryukyuensis'' Matsumoto & van Ofwegen, 2015 *''

Melithaea sagamiensis ''Melithaea'' is a genus of Octocorallia, octocorals in the family (biology), family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is ''Melithaea ochracea'' ...

'' Matsumoto & van Ofwegen, 2015 *''

Melithaea sanguinea ''Melithaea'' is a genus of Octocorallia, octocorals in the family (biology), family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is ''Melithaea ochracea'' ...

'' (Kükenthal, 1908) *'' Melithaea satsumaensis'' Matsumoto & van Ofwegen, 2015 *''

Melithaea serrata ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is '' Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea shanni'' Reijnen, McFadden, Hermanlimianto & van Ofwegen, 2014 *'' Melithaea sinaica'' (Grasshoff, 2000) *''

Melithaea singularis ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is ''Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea sinuata'' (Wright & Studer, 1889) *''

Melithaea spinosa ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is ''Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea splendens ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is '' Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea spongiosa'' (Nutting, 1911) *'' Melithaea squamata'' (Nutting, 1911) *'' Melithaea squarrosa'' (Kükenthal, 1909) *''

Melithaea stiasnyi ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is ''Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea stormii'' (Studer, 1895) *'' Melithaea studeri'' (Nutting, 1911) *'' Melithaea suensoni'' Matsumoto & van Ofwegen, 2015 *''

Melithaea superba ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is ''Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea tanseii ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is ''Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea tenella'' (Dana, 1846) *''

Melithaea tenuis ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is ''Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea textiformis ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is ''Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea thomsoni ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is '' Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea thorpeae ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is '' Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea tokaraensis'' Matsumoto & van Ofwegen, 2015 *''

Melithaea tongaensis ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is ''Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea triangulata'' (Nutting, 1911) *''

Melithaea trilineata ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is ''Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea undulata ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is ''Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea valdiviae ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is ''Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea variabilis ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is ''Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaea virgata ''Melithaea'' is a genus of Octocorallia, octocorals in the family (biology), family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is ''Melithaea ochracea'' ...

'' (Verrill, 1846) *''

Melithaea wrighti ''Melithaea'' is a genus of Octocorallia, octocorals in the family (biology), family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is ''Melithaea ochracea'' ...

'' Reijnen, McFadden, Hermanlimianto & van Ofwegen, 2014 *''

Melithaea zimmeri ''Melithaea'' is a genus of octocorals in the family Melithaeidae. Members of the genus are commonly known as fan corals and are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The type species is ''Melithaea ochracea''.Melithaeidae Octocorallia genera