Muricella Verrill, 1869

Horvath, Elizabeth Anne, 2019, A review of gorgonian coral species (Cnidaria, Octocorallia, Alcyonacea) held in the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History research collection: focus on species from Scleraxonia, Holaxonia, and Calcaxonia - Part I: Introduction, species of Scleraxonia and Holaxonia (Family Acanthogorgiidae), ZooKeys 860, pp. 1-66 : 1

Genus Muricella Verrill, 1869

Lissogorgia (pars) Verrill, 1865: 187.

Muricea (pars) Verrill, 1868c: 411-416.

Muricella Verrill, 1869a: 450 (=? Anthogorgia Fabricius & Alderslade, 2001). Studer 1879: 650. Ridley 1882b: 128; [=? Muricea Ridley 1884: 335, 579]. Studer 1887: 58. Wright and Studer 1889: 123 + plate. Germanos 1896: 181. Brundin 1896: 17. Whitelegge 1897: 315. Hiles 1899: 49. Hargitt and Rogers 1900-1902: 282. Hickson 1905b: 815. Thomson and Henderson 1905a: 301; 1905b: 178; 1906a: 78. Nutting 1908: 586; 1909: 717. Thomson and Simpson 1909: 241. [=? Versluysia Nutting 1910: 29, 35]. Thomson and Russell 1910: 158. Nutting 1912: 78. Kükenthal 1913b: 28. Schimbke 1915: 26. Kükenthal 1919: 75, 838, 909. Molander 1921: 11. Aurivillius 1931: 123. Bayer 1956a: F206. Grasshoff 1999: 33. Fabricius and Alderslade 2001: 188.

? Anthogorgia Verrill, 1868 (=? Acalycigorgia Kükenthal, 1908b). Grasshoff 1999: 33. Fabricius and Alderslade 2001: 186.

? Acalycigorgia Kükenthal, 1908b (=? Acanthogorgia or Astrogorgia [see Fabricius and Alderslade 2001] as proposed by Cairns and Bayer, unpublished synonymy).

? Astrogorgia Verrill, 1868c: 413. Fabricius and Alderslade 2001: 210.

? Acanthogorgia Gray, 1857a: 128 [1851]. Fabricius and Alderslade 2001: 184.

Type species.

Lissogorgia flexuosa Verrill, 1865; [subsequent diagnosis by Nutting 1910].

Diagnosis.

Colonies fan-shaped, branching in one plane, some anastomosing. Larger branches with axis often tending to be flattened at right angles to plane of fan; in older colonies, smaller branches can bend and grow perpendicular from the fan. Polyps prominent, low, wart-like, non-retractile; coenenchyme thick between polyps. Sclerites of polyp tentacles small rods; below anthocodiae, sclerites large and bow-shaped, in angled double rows (chevrons), forming eight marginal points, forming strong collaret; tentacular operculum distinct. Sclerites of coenenchyme in two distinct layers, mostly spindles (coarse or densely warted), small capstans, with some clubs or discoidal forms.

Remarks.

Kükenthal (1924) articulated the characteristics of this genus, which include: condition of the branch ends, position, orientation, height, and form of polyps, presence of an operculum, and arrangement of sclerites in the coenencyme. Fabricius and Alderslade (2001) discussed aspects of comparison/contrast between this genus and others; it was stated, "not much separates this genus from Anthogorgia , and a study of a large suite of specimens could see the two synonymized." Additionally, a characteristic feature pertinent to the genus diagnosis came from the Octocoral Taxonomy Laboratory Manual (2007): There are no calyces in the genus Muricella ; "almost 90% of the species attributed to this genus do not belong there. A major revision is needed." In reviewing older literature there were references to calyces in this genus; Bayer (1956a) comments on the "truncated cones" or "rounded, low verrucae." In descriptions given by Verrill (1869 a), reference is made to calyces, as well. The concept of how to define a calyx may need revisiting, notably with regards to this genus.