Octocorallia

Taxonavigation Kingdom: Animalia Sub Kingdom: Eumetazoa Super Phylum: Radiata Phylum: Cnidaria Class: Anthozoa Sub Class: Octocorallia Order: Alcyonacea - Gorgonacea - Helioporacea - Pennatulacea

Introduction

Previously referred to as Alcyonaria. Includes sea fans (Gorgonacea), sea pens (Pennatulacea) and the soft corals (Alcyonacea).

Characteristics

All exhibit eight fold symmetry, which translates to having a multiply of eight tentacles per polyp.

Classification

• Alcyonacea - soft corals
• Gorgonacea - gorgonians, sea fans
• Helioporacea -
• Pennatulacea - sea pens

Gallery

• 
  Clavularia sp.
  Clove Polyp
  Order: Alcyonacea
• 
  Gorgonia sp.
  Gorgonian
  Order: Gorgonacea

Resources

• Soft coral atlas of the Great Barrier Reef - The Soft Coral Atlas of the Great Barrier Reef contains distribution maps, detailed ecological information and colour photographs of the 36 most common genera of soft corals and sea fans (Alcyonacea, Octocorallia) found on the Great Barrier Reef. (free and available for download)
• Octocorallia - Wikipedia
• Octocoral Taxonomy Laboratory Manual - Michael, J., Lee, M., Results of the International Workshop on the Taxonomy of Octocorals: University of Kerala, India. March 20-26, 2005.