CHRYSOGORGIIDAE VERRILL, 1883

Pante, Eric & France, Scott C., 2010, Pseudochrysogorgia bellona n. gen., n. sp.: a new genus and species of chrysogorgiid octocoral (Coelenterata, Anthozoa) from the Coral Sea, Zoosystema 32 (4), pp. 595-612 : 600-601

KEY TO THE COMMON DEEP- SEA GENERA OF CHRYSOGORGIIDAE VERRILL, 1883

1. Colonies unbranched, flagelliform and spirally twisted ................................... Radicipes

— Colonies branched. Terminal branches originating directly from the main stem or after bifurcations of primary branches ................................................................................ 2

2. Colonies sympodial, branches originate in a regular spiral around the main stem, or forming two parallel fans at the top of a short trunk. Axial skeleton has brilliant metallic luster; flexibility variable among species ............................................................... Chrysogorgia

— Colonies monopodial and not flabellate ..................................................................... 3

3. Terminal branches undivided, arising from the outside of a golden, upward-spiraling main stem ........................................................................................................................... 4

— Branching in multiple planes, branches subdividing dichotomously. Axis strongly calcified, with dark, metallic luster ............................................................................................ 5

4. Main stem coiled, not wavy; presence of sclerites in the coenenchyme along branches depending on species ................................................................................... Iridogorgia

— Main stem wavy, not coiled; array of sclerite shapes wider than in Iridogorgia , sclerites consistently present in the coenenchyme along branches .................. Rhodaniridogorgia

5. Abundant, dichotomously-subdivided branches originate in an irregular or regular spiral around a tall, upright main stem. Distance between branches along the stem short (<2cm) and regular. Polyps with ornamented sclerites of irregular shape, in the form of plates, scales and rods ...................................................................... Pseudochrysogorgia n. gen.

— Dichotomously-subdivided branches arising from the top of a tall, upright main stem. Juvenile colonies have additional branches arising around the main stem. In this case, distance between branches along the stem are wide ranging (up to 10 cm) and irregular. Older colonies typically bear scars of past side branches along the main stem. Sclerites in the form of rods and scales, with little ornamentation ............................. Metallogorgia