Nephtheidae is a
family
Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...
of
soft corals in 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.
Their distinguishing feature is cnidocytes, specialized cells that ...
. 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, yellows and purples. They are popular with
reef aquarium
A reef aquarium or reef tank is a marine aquarium that prominently displays live corals and other marine invertebrates as well as fish that play a role in maintaining the tropical coral reef environment. A reef aquarium requires appropriatel ...
hobbyists.
Most of these corals are arborescent and have little knobs on the end of their rubbery branches. The coral
polyps tend to retract in the daytime which gives these corals their alternative name of broccoli corals because of their resemblance to the vegetable. At night the polyps emerge and extend their tentacles to feed, looking like little bunches of flowers on the ends of the branches.
Genera
The World Register of Marine Species includes the following
genera in this
family
Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...
:
*''
Capnella''
Gray, 1869
*''
Chondronephthya''
Utinomi, 1960
*''
Chromonephthea''
van Ofwegen, 2005
*''
Coronephthya''
Utinomi, 1966
*''
Dendronephthya
''Dendronephthya'' is a genus of soft corals in the family Nephtheidae. There are over 250 described species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversi ...
''
Kuekenthal, 1905
*''
Drifa''
Danielssen, 1886
*''
Duva''
Koren & Danielssen, 1883
*''
Eunephthya''
Verrill, 1869
*''
Gersemia''
Marenzeller, 1877
*''
Lemnalia''
Gray, 1868
*''
Litophyton''
Forskål, 1775
*''
Neospongodes''
Kükenthal, 1903
*''
Pacifiphyton''
Williams, 1997
*''
Paralemnalia''
Kükenthal, 1913
*''
Pseudodrifa''
Utinomi, 1961
*''
Scleronephthya''
Studer, 1887
*''
Stereonephthya''
Kükenthal, 1905
*''
Umbellulifera''
Thomson & Dean, 1931
Image:Cauliflower soft coral at Rambler Rock south reef P9078397.JPG, '' Capnella thyrsoidea''
Image:White soft coral.jpg, ''Dendronephthya klunzingeri
''Dendronephthya klunzingeri'' is a species of soft coral in the family Nephtheidae.
This species is divaricate
Divaricate means branching, or having separation or a degree of separation. The angle between branches is wide.
In botany
In bota ...
''
Image:Soft and noble corals at Barry's Pinnacles PB198243.JPG, '' Eunephthya thyrsoidea''
Image:Gersemia antarctica, near McMurdo Station, Ross Island.JPG, '' Gersemia antarctica''
Image:Nephthya sp. (Soft tree coral).jpg, '' Nephthya sp.''
Image:Scleronephthya sp.jpg, '' Scleronephthya sp.''
References
Taxa named by John Edward Gray
Alcyoniina
Cnidarian families
{{Octocorallia-stub