Myriopathidae

FAMILY

1. KingdomAnimalia
2. PhylumCnidaria
3. ClassAnthozoa
4. OrderAntipatharia
5. FamilyMyriopathidae

Habitatmarine, brackish

"Taxonomic section Myriopathidae fam. nov. Diagnosis.— Corallum monopodial or branched; branching irregular or pseudodichotomous. Stem and branches usually pinnulate to varying degrees of regularity. Primary pinnules simple or subpinnulate. Pinnular spines relatively large (maximum height of polypar spines at least two times width along the base), acute, conical, or slightly compressed and blade-like; smooth or finely papillose. Polypar spines generally larger than abpolypar spines. Spines increasing in density on larger branches and stem; becoming acicular and often bifid, trifid, or dendritic. Polyps 0.5-1.0 mm (usually 0.6-0.8 mm) in transverse diameter, with distinct interpolypar space 0.2-0.4 mm in width (in preserved material). Tentacles of fully expanded polyps relatively short and rounded at apex. Remarks.— This family is established on the basis of the size and morphology of the polyps, tentacles and spines, and on the general pinnulation of the corallum. Myriopathidae is closely related to Antipathidae, but differs from that family in that the polyps are smaller (usually 0.5-1 mm vs. 1 mm or greater), and they have relatively shorter tentacles (one to two times the transv

via GBIF