ZooKeys 567: The Genus Litophyton Forskål, 1775 (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea, Nephtheidae) in the Red Sea and the western Indian Ocean

About this book

The Octocorallia (Cnidaria) are a poorly understood group of marine animals and most genera are badly in need of revision. This article represents the second revision of genera of the family Nephtheidae, that occurs throughout the world’s oceans, primarily the shallow water tropical regions. In the article the species of the genus Litophyton from the Red Sea and the western Indian Ocean are treated, which includes species previously belonging to the genus Nephthea, here synonymized with Litophyton. A neotype for both Litophyton arboreum, the type species of Litophyton, and Nephthea chabrolii, the type species of Nephthea, are designated. The new species L. curvum sp. n. is described and depicted, and a key to all Litophyton species is provided. Of the 26 species previously described from the western Indian Ocean and Red Sea, 13 species are considered valid and 13 have been synonymized or placed in other genera.

Contents

Introduction   2
Abbreviations   3
Material and methods   3
Systematic part   4
Litophyton   4
Species described from the Red Sea and the western Indian Ocean considered valid   5
Species from the Red Sea and the western Indian Ocean considered invalid   5
Key to the species of Litophyton from the Red Sea and the western Indian Ocean   6
      Litophyton acuticonicum (Verseveldt, 1974)   7
      Litophyton arboreum Forskål, 1775   8
      Litophyton bumastum (Verseveldt, 1973)   10
      Litophyton chabrolii (Andouin, 1828)   10
      Litophyton curvum sp. n.   13
      Litophyton filamentosum (Verseveldt, 1973)   14
      Litophyton laevis (Kükenthal, 1913)   14
      Litophyton lanternarium (Verseveldt, 1973)   16
      Litophyton maldivensis (Hickson, 1905)   16
      Litophyton ?savignyi (Ehrenberg, 1834)   18
      Litophyton simulatum (Verseveldt, 1970)   21
      Litophyton striatum (Kükenthal, 1903)   24
      Litophyton viridis (May, 1898)   26
Figures   30
Unidentified specimens   124
Acknowledgements   124
References   124

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