Latissimia Benayahu, Ekins & McFadden, 2022

Benayahu, Yehuda, Ekins, Merrick, Van Ofwegen, Leen P., Samimi-Namin, Kaveh & Mcfadden, Catherine S., 2022, On some encrusting Xeniidae (Octocorallia): Re-examination of the type material of Sansibia flava (May, 1898) and a description of new taxa, Zootaxa 5093 (4), pp. 421-444 : 430

Latissimia Benayahu, Ekins & McFadden , gen. nov.

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Diagnosis. Xeniidae with polyps arising directly from a relatively thick spreading membrane which provides the colony with a fleshy texture. Polyps monomorphic and non-retractile. Sclerites present as ellipsoid platelets, some with a waist-like median narrowing, abundant in all parts of the colony. The sclerites reach up to 0.023 mm in diameter, and reveal a dendritic surface microstructure. The live colonies feature a characteristic blue tint due to the sclerite light-refraction properties, commonly providing a blue appearance to the tissue. Zooxanthellate.

Type species: Latissimia opalia Ekins, Benayahu & McFadden , sp. nov. by original designation.

Etymology. The generic name Latissimia (gender: feminine) is derived from the Latin: latissime, which refers to widespread. Here, it denotes the wide distribution of this genus on various eastern and western Australian reefs, while also being an invasive in the western Atlantic Ocean ( Brazil).