Scleraxonia is a

suborder Order ( la, ordo) is one of the eight major hierarchical taxonomic ranks in Linnaean taxonomy. It is classified between family and class. In biological classification, the order is a taxonomic rank used in the classification of organisms and ...

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, a member of the

phylum In biology, a phylum (; plural: phyla) is a level of classification or taxonomic rank below kingdom and above class. Traditionally, in botany the term division has been used instead of phylum, although the International Code of Nomenclature f ...

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 th ...

Characteristics

Members of Scleraxonia have a skeletal axis made of calcified spicules, organic fibres or both, which may be separate, linked or fused together.

Families and genera

There are nine recognised families in this suborder and over thirty genera, with four families (

Anthothelidae Anthothelidae is a family (biology), family of corals, a member of the phylum Cnidaria. Genera Genera in this family include: * ''Alertigorgia'' Kükenthal, 1908 * ''Anthothela'' Verrill, 1879 * ''Briareopsis'' Bayer, 1993 * ''Erythropodium'' K� ...

Briareidae Briareidae is a family of corals, a member of 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 ...

Coralliidae Coralliidae, also known as precious corals, is a taxonomic family of soft corals belonging to the phylum Cnidaria of the family Scleraxonia. These sessile corals are one of the most dominant members of hard-bottomed benthic environments such as ...

and Subergorgiidae) containing some deep-water species and two families (

Paragorgiidae Paragorgiidae is a family of corals, a member of the phylum Cnidaria. Genera Genera in this family include: * ''Paragorgia ''Paragorgia'' is a genus of soft coral in the family Paragorgiidae Paragorgiidae is a family of corals, a member ...

and

Parisididae ''Parisis'' is a genus of corals in the monotypic family Parisididae. Species 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 ...

) being exclusively deep water.

Families 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. Ideall ...

and

genera 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 nomenclat ...

in this suborder include: *

Broch, 1916 ** '' Alertigorgia'' Kükenthal, 1908 ** '' Anthothela'' Verrill, 1879 ** '' Briareopsis'' Bayer, 1993 ** '' Erythropodium'' Kölliker, 1865 ** '' Iciligorgia'' Duchassaing, 1870 ** '' Lateothela'' Moore, Alderslade & Miller, 2017 ** '' Solenocaulon'' Gray, 1862 ** '' Stereogorgia'' ** '' Tubigorgia'' Pasternak, 1985 ** '' Williamsium'' Moore, Alderslade & Miller, 2017 *

Gray, 1859 ** ''

Briareum ''Briareum'' is a genus of soft corals in the family Briareidae. The coral is cultivated by aquarium owners for its fluorescing polyps, which reveal themselves under actinic light. The genus is in need of extensive examination, as many specimens ...

'' Blainville, 1834 ** '' Lignopsis'' Perez & Zamponi, 2000 ** '' Pseudosuberia'' Kükenthal, 1919 *

Lamouroux, 1812 ** ''

Corallium Precious coral, or red coral, is the common name given to a genus of marine corals, ''Corallium''. The distinguishing characteristic of precious corals is their durable and intensely colored red or pink-orange skeleton, which is used for m ...

'' Cuvier, 1798 ** ''

Hemicorallium ''Hemicorallium'' is a genus of corals belonging to the family Coralliidae Coralliidae, also known as precious corals, is a taxonomic family of soft corals belonging to the phylum Cnidaria of the family Scleraxonia. These sessile corals are on ...

'' Gray, 1867 ** '' Paracorallium'' Bayer & Cairns, 2003 *

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.Asperaxis'' Alderslade, 2007 ** '' Melithaea'' Milne-Edwards, 1857 *

Kukenthal, 1916 ** ''

Paragorgia ''Paragorgia'' is a genus of soft coral in the family Paragorgiidae Paragorgiidae is a family of corals, a member of the phylum Cnidaria. Genera Genera Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of ...

'' Milne-Edwards, 1857 ** '' Sibogagorgia'' Stiasny, 1937 *

Aurivillius, 1931 ** '' Parisis'' Verrill, 1864 * Spongiodermidae Wright & Studer, 1889 ** '' Callipodium'' Verrill, 1876 ** '' Diodogorgia'' Kuekenthal, 1919 ** '' Homophyton'' Gray, 1866 ** '' Sclerophyton'' Cairns & Wirshing, 2015 ** '' Titanideum'' Verrill, 1864 ** '' Tripalea'' Bayer, 1955 * Subergorgiidae Gray, 1859 ** '' Annella'' Gray, 1858 ** '' Rosgorgia'' Lopez Gonzalez & Gili, 2001 ** '' Subergorgia'' Gray, 1857 *

Victorgorgiidae ''Victorgorgia'' is a genus of 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 feat ...

Moore, Alderslade & Miller, 2017 ** '' Victorgorgia'' Lopez Gonzalez & Briand, 2002

References

Alcyonacea Cnidarian suborders {{Octocorallia-stub