Chromoplexaura, Williams, 2013

Williams, Gary C. & Breedy, Odalisca, 2019, A New Species of Gorgonian Octocoral from the Mesophotic Zone off the Central Coast of California, Eastern Pacific with a Key to Related Regional Taxa (Anthozoa, Octocorallia, Alcyonacea), Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 65 (6), pp. 143-158 : 146-147

Key to species of Chromoplexaura and related taxa in California

1a. Colonies planar and sparsely branched. Coenenchymal sclerites are broad to ovoid spindles with densely set tubercles, capstans, girdled spindles, elongated radiates, and/or tuberculated crosses................................................................... 2

1b. Colonies unbranched to copiously branched or bushy. Coenenchymal sclerites may include elongate to needlelike spindles, compact radiates, double discs, and/or disc spindles...... 3

2a. Colonies red. Coenenchymal sclerites include ovoid spindles and girdled spindles................................................. Chromoplexaura marki ( Kükenthal, 1913)

2b. Colonies yellow. Coenenchymal sclerites include capstans, elongated radiates, and crosses......................................... Chromoplexaura cordellbankensis sp. nov.

3a. Colonies unbranched or Y-shaped............................................... 4

3b. Colonies branched – copiously branched or bushy................................. 5

4a. Colonies white; polyp mounds low-rounded.. Swiftia farallonesica Williams & Breedy, 2016

4b. Colonies coral red to dark red. Polyp mounds prominent – conical to low cylindrical........................................................ Swiftia simplex ( Nutting, 1909)

5a. Branching bushy, polyp mounds prominent – conical to cylindrical.................... 6

5b. Branching sparse, polyp mounds low-rounded. Colonies coral red with white polyps...................................................... Swiftia spauldingi ( Nutting, 1909)

6a. Polyp mounds truncated conical; sclerites are radiates and elongate spindles with rounded tubercles.......................................... Swiftia torreyi ( Nutting, 1909)

6b. Polyp mounds stout, conical to cylindrical; sclerites are primarily elongate spiny spindles, often needle-like and curved............................... Swiftia kofoidi ( Nutting, 1909)