Prof. Michael Schleyer, Südafrika
Info
Xenia lepida Verseveldt, 1971
The whole group of xeniid soft corals, which includes Xenia, Cespitularia, Efflatournaria and others, was really difficult to identify to the genus level.
Now soft coral taxonomists are going ahead and introducing completely new genera, such as Ovabunda , Conglomeratusclera and Caementabunda.
The taxonomy of these very delicate soft corals is very challenging, but the newly introduced name Unomia for one of the best known corals in the hobby; may help us distinguish it from more typical Xenia- varieties .
Xenia is a genus of octocorals: common in the tropical Indo-Pacific and the Red Sea. They have a soft, very slimy stem; Ihe polyps are not retractable.
All species have zooxanthellae, but also absorb dissolved substances from the water. Xenia can reproduce vegetatively very quickly and form regionally large monocultures. This happens mainly in shallow water.
Xenia is found in clear water lagoon and reef areas to turbid inshore locations.
Original Description: Verseveldt, J. (1971). Octocorallia from North-Western Madagascar (Part II). Zoologische Verhandelingen. 1-73, plates 1-15. page(s): 65-67
The whole group of xeniid soft corals, which includes Xenia, Cespitularia, Efflatournaria and others, was really difficult to identify to the genus level.
Now soft coral taxonomists are going ahead and introducing completely new genera, such as Ovabunda , Conglomeratusclera and Caementabunda.
The taxonomy of these very delicate soft corals is very challenging, but the newly introduced name Unomia for one of the best known corals in the hobby; may help us distinguish it from more typical Xenia- varieties .
Xenia is a genus of octocorals: common in the tropical Indo-Pacific and the Red Sea. They have a soft, very slimy stem; Ihe polyps are not retractable.
All species have zooxanthellae, but also absorb dissolved substances from the water. Xenia can reproduce vegetatively very quickly and form regionally large monocultures. This happens mainly in shallow water.
Xenia is found in clear water lagoon and reef areas to turbid inshore locations.
Original Description: Verseveldt, J. (1971). Octocorallia from North-Western Madagascar (Part II). Zoologische Verhandelingen. 1-73, plates 1-15. page(s): 65-67
