Plexauridae

Plexauridae is a family of marine colonial octocorals in the phylum Cnidaria. Members of this family are found in shallow tropical and subtropical seas. Many species contain symbiotic photosynthetic protists called zooxanthellae.

Characteristics
The Plexauridae have a branching colony form and many are known as sea rods or sea fans. The axial core of the coral skeleton is horny and hollow, and contains no sclerites. This is covered by a layer of tissue called coenenchyme in which is embedded calcareous sclerites. The sclerites are very varied in form in the Plexauridae, and examination of their morphology is helpful in identifying the different species. The calyces in which the polyps sit are strengthened by further sclerites and have eight fine dividing walls called septa. The polyps each have eight pinnate tentacles.

Genera
The World Register of Marine Species includes these genera in this family:


 * Acanthacis Deichmann, 1936
 * Acanthomuricea Hentschel, 1903
 * Acis Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1860
 * Alaskagorgia Sánchez & Cairns, 2004
 * Anthomuricea Studer, 1887
 * Anthoplexaura Kükenthal, 1908
 * Astrogorgia Verrill, 1868
 * Astromuricea Germanos, 1895
 * Bayergorgia Williams & Lopez-Gonzalez, 2005
 * Bebryce Philippi, 1841
 * Chromoplexaura Williams, 2013
 * Cryogorgia Williams, 2005
 * Dentomuricea Grasshoff, 1977
 * Discogorgia Kükenthal, 1919
 * Echinogorgia Kölliker, 1865
 * Echinomuricea Verrill, 1869
 * Elasmogorgia Wright & Studer, 1889
 * Eunicea Lamouroux, 1816
 * Euplexaura Verrill, 1869
 * Heterogorgia Verrill, 1868
 * Hypnogorgia Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864
 * Lapidogorgia Grasshoff, 1999
 * Lepidomuricea Kükenthal, 1919
 * Lytreia Bayer, 1981
 * Menacella Gray, 1870
 * Menella Gray, 1870
 * Mesogligorgia Lopez-Gonzalez, 2007
 * Muricea Lamouroux, 1821
 * Muriceides Wright & Studer, 1889
 * Muriceopsis Aurivillius, 1931
 * Paracis Kükenthal, 1919
 * Paramuricea Koelliker, 1865
 * Paraplexaura Kükenthal, 1909
 * Placogorgia Wright & Studer, 1889
 * Plexaura Lamouroux, 1821
 * Plexaurella Kölliker, 1865
 * Plexauroides Wright & Studer
 * Plexauropsis Verrill
 * Psammogorgia Verrill, 1868
 * Pseudoplexaura Wright & Studer, 1889
 * Pseudothesea Kükenthal, 1919
 * Scleracis Kükenthal, 1919
 * Spinimuricea Grasshoff, 1992
 * Swiftia Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864
 * Thesea Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1860
 * Trimuricea Gordon, 1926
 * Villogorgia Duchassaing & Michelloti, 1862