''Plexaurella'' 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 gorgonian-type

octocorals 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 fan ...

in the

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 ...

Plexauridae Plexauridae is a family of marine colonial octocorals in the phylum Cnidaria. Members of this family are found in shallow tropical and subtropical seas. Many species contain symbiotic photosynthetic protists called zooxanthellae. Characteristi ...

. Species of the genus are typically characterised by their slit-pores, however, there are some which lack this distinguishing feature (e.g. ''P. grisea'').Bayer, FM 1961. Shallow water Octocorallia of the West Indian Region. Studies of the fauna of Curacao and other Caribbean islands. 55. Sclerite examination is necessary for species identification, which reveals the characteristic 4-rayed 'butterfly' spicules of the cortex and the lack of purple sclerites in the axial sheath.

Species

The World Register of Marine Species lists the following species in the genus: *'' Plexaurella crassa'' (Ellis, 1756) *'' Plexaurella curvata'' Kunze, 1916 *'' Plexaurella dichotoma'' (Esper, 1791) *''

Plexaurella furcata ''Plexaurella'' is a genus of gorgonian-type octocorals in the family Plexauridae. Species of the genus are typically characterised by their slit-pores, however, there are some which lack this distinguishing feature (e.g. ''P. grisea'').Bayer, FM ...

'' (Lamarck, 1816) *''

Plexaurella grandiflora ''Plexaurella'' is a genus of gorgonian-type octocorals in the family Plexauridae. Species of the genus are typically characterised by their slit-pores, however, there are some which lack this distinguishing feature (e.g. ''P. grisea'').Bayer, FM ...

'' Verrill, 1912 *''

Plexaurella grisea ''Plexaurella'' is a genus of gorgonian-type octocorals in the family Plexauridae. Species of the genus are typically characterised by their slit-pores, however, there are some which lack this distinguishing feature (e.g. ''P. grisea'').Bayer, FM ...

'' Kunze, 1916 *''

Plexaurella heteropora ''Plexaurella'' is a genus of gorgonian-type octocorals in the family Plexauridae. Species of the genus are typically characterised by their slit-pores, however, there are some which lack this distinguishing feature (e.g. ''P. grisea'').Bayer, FM ...

'' (Lamarck, 1816) *''

Plexaurella kunzei ''Plexaurella'' is a genus of gorgonian-type octocorals in the family Plexauridae. Species of the genus are typically characterised by their slit-pores, however, there are some which lack this distinguishing feature (e.g. ''P. grisea'').Bayer, FM ...

'' Kükenthal, 1916> *''

Plexaurella minuta ''Plexaurella'' is a genus of gorgonian-type octocorals in the family Plexauridae. Species of the genus are typically characterised by their slit-pores, however, there are some which lack this distinguishing feature (e.g. ''P. grisea'').Bayer, FM ...

'' Kunze, 1916 *'' Plexaurella nutans'' (Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1860) *''

Plexaurella regia ''Plexaurella'' is a genus of gorgonian-type octocorals in the family Plexauridae. Species of the genus are typically characterised by their slit-pores, however, there are some which lack this distinguishing feature (e.g. ''P. grisea'').Bayer, FM ...

'' Barreira e Castro, 1986 *''

Plexaurella tenuis ''Plexaurella'' is a genus of gorgonian-type octocorals in the family Plexauridae. Species of the genus are typically characterised by their slit-pores, however, there are some which lack this distinguishing feature (e.g. ''P. grisea'').Bayer, FM ...

'' Kunze, 1916 *''

Plexaurella teres ''Plexaurella'' is a genus of gorgonian-type octocorals in the family Plexauridae. Species of the genus are typically characterised by their slit-pores, however, there are some which lack this distinguishing feature (e.g. ''P. grisea'').Bayer, FM ...

'' Kunze, 1916 *''

Plexaurella vermiculata ''Plexaurella'' is a genus of gorgonian-type Octocorallia, octocorals in the Family (biology), family Plexauridae. Species of the genus are typically characterised by their slit-pores, however, there are some which lack this distinguishing featur ...

'' (Lamarck, 1816)

References

Plexauridae Octocorallia genera {{octocorallia-stub