taxonID	type	description	language	source
8D087337BB36ABFD5E9FFD3BA30793D1.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Colonies soft with a short but distinct stalk, ramified into primary branches and occasionally into secondary ones. Polyps monomorphic, found along the branches, sometimes down on the stalk; most are non-retractile. Sclerites of a wide diversity of forms and dimensions, many lacking a distinct repetitive morphology. They include spheres, spherules, and small dumbbell-like sclerites. They are commonly cemented together, forming heterogeneous morphologies of various shapes and sizes. Occasionally, the aggregates form plate-like structures, embedded with spheres and / or spherules. The abundance of sclerites can vary greatly; in some specimens they are rare and then mostly found only at the colony base, and occasionally they may be found in all parts of the colonies, or may even be entirely absent. Zooxanthellate.	en	Benayahu, Yehuda, Ofwegen, Leen P. van, McFadden, Catherine S. (2018): Evaluating the genus Cespitularia MilneEdwards & Haime, 1850 with descriptions of new genera of the family Xeniidae (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea). ZooKeys 754: 63-101, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.754.23368, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.754.23368
8D087337BB36ABFD5E9FFD3BA30793D1.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The generic name is derived from Latin conglomeratus, which refers to anything composed of heterogeneous materials or elements and sclera from Greek meaning sclerite. Here it denotes the sclerites that resemble the geological structures termed conglomerates, a feature comprising rounded to sub-angular clast of granules, pebbles or cobbles cemented together. Gender female.	en	Benayahu, Yehuda, Ofwegen, Leen P. van, McFadden, Catherine S. (2018): Evaluating the genus Cespitularia MilneEdwards & Haime, 1850 with descriptions of new genera of the family Xeniidae (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea). ZooKeys 754: 63-101, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.754.23368, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.754.23368
5E6FD19A0298891C8523200F3DA09AF3.taxon	materials_examined	Material. Syntypes: ZANZIBAR: ZMH C 2518, Kokotoni, two colonies and two fragments, Tumbatu (southern reef), 24 July 1885, coll. Stuhlmann; ZMB Cni 3671, two colonies, 1885, coll. Sander; types of Cespitularia taeniata; MOZAMBIQUE: ZMH C 2519, three colonies and three fragments, coll. Philippi, 1884.	en	Benayahu, Yehuda, Ofwegen, Leen P. van, McFadden, Catherine S. (2018): Evaluating the genus Cespitularia MilneEdwards & Haime, 1850 with descriptions of new genera of the family Xeniidae (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea). ZooKeys 754: 63-101, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.754.23368, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.754.23368
5E6FD19A0298891C8523200F3DA09AF3.taxon	materials_examined	Other material. JAPAN: ZMTAU Co 29285, Yonaguni Is., Ryukyu Archipelago, coll. Y. Benayahu, 13 November 1992, ten specimens; ZMTAU Co 29290, Nurugan, Yonaguni Is., Ryukyu Archipelago, 04 ° 05 ' N, 122 ° 57 ' E, 23 m depth, coll. Y. Benayahu, 11 November 1992, ZMTAU Co 31699, details as before, six specimens; ZMTAU CO 35129, West Point, Yonaguni Is., Ryukyu Archipelago, 11 - 22 m depth, coll. Y. Benayahu, 4 July 2010, two specimens; ZMTAU CO 35130, details as before; ZMTAU Co 35131, details as before, four specimens ZMTAU Co 35132, Co 35134, Co 35138, Co 35139, details as before; ZMTAU Co 35142, West Point, Yonaguni Is., Ryukyu Archipelago, 16 - 22 m depth, coll. Y. Benayahu, 5 July 2010, two specimens; ZMTAU Co 35153, details as before; KENYA: ZMTAU Co 31326, Nyali, off Mombasa, 10 - 16 m depth, coll. Y. Benayahu & S. Perkol, 1 February 2001; ZMTAU Co 31635, Turning Bouya, Shelly Reef, off Likoni, 04 ° 05 ' S, 39 ° 41.1 ' E, 15 - 28 m depth, coll. Y. Benayahu, 27 February 2002, two specimens; MADAGASCAR: ZMTAU Co 35982, Riva Be, 12 ° 59.126 ' S, 48 ° 34.453 ' E, 8 - 10 m depth, coll. Y. Benayahu, 27 November 2012, three specimens; ZMTAU Co 35990, Riva Be, 12 ° 59.094 ' S, 48 ° 34.622 ' E, 10 - 11 m depth, coll. Y. Benayahu, 27 November 2012, two specimens; ZMTAU Co 35991, details as before, four specimens; ZMTAU Co 36013, Ankarea, 12 ° 50.054 ' S, 48 ° 34.563 ' E, 6 - 9 m depth, coll. Y. Benayahu, 29 November 2012; ZMTAU Co 36055, Co 36063, 4 Freres, 12 ° 59.655 ' S, 48 ° 29.248 ' E, 4 - 15 m depth, coll. Y. Benayahu, 1 December 2012; ZMTAU Co 36101, Ronald Point, Nosy Be, 13 ° 23.530 ' S, 48 ° 00.143 ' E, 19 - 27 m depth, coll. Y. Benayahu, 3 December 2012, two specimens; ZMTAU Co 36129, Ronald Point, Nosy Be, 13 ° 29.032 ' S, 47 ° 58.721 ' E, 2 - 14 m depth, coll. Y. Benayahu, 3 December 2012, two specimens; USNM 54000 Nosy Be; USNM 54003 Nosy Be; MOZAMBIQUE: ZMTAU Co 31296, Ilha Sete Paus, 14 ° 58.572 ' S, 40 ° 47.389 ' E, 6 m depth, coll. M. Schleyer, 16 November 2000, two specimens; ZMTAU Co 31337, Ilha Caldeira, 16 ° 38 ' 22 " S, 39 ° 43 ' 10 " E, 4 - 16 m depth, coll. M. Schleyer, 2 June 2000, four specimens; TAIWAN: ZMTAU, Co 32988, Lomen yan, Green Is., 22 ° 40 ' 56 " N, 121 ° 30 ' 06 " E, 3 - 25 m depth, coll. Y. Benayahu, 12 July 2005; ZMTAU Co 33006, details as before, seven specimens, Co 33008, details as before; ZMTAU Co 33030, Dabaisha, Green Is., 22 ° 38 ' 25 " N, 121 ° 29 ' 04 " E, 10 - 25 m depth, coll. Y. Benayahu, 14 July 2005; ZMTAU Co 33036, Co 33043, 33045, Nanliao, Green Is., 22 ° 39 ' 40 " N, 121 ° 27 ' 59 " E, 10 - 25 m depth, coll. Y. Benayahu, 14 July 2005; ZMTAU Co 35693, Co 35699, Co 35708, Co 35709, Co 35712, Co 35714, Co 35716, Co 35717, (only molecular sample), Shihlang, Green Is., 22 ° 39.425 ' N, 121 ° 28.399 ' E, 8 - 12 m depth, coll. Y. Benayahu, 3 September 2012, ZMTAU Co 35692, details as before, three specimens; ZMTAU Co 35706, Co 35707, details as before, two specimens; ZMTAU Co 35725, Dabaisha, Green Is., 22 ° 38.284 ' N, 121 ° 29.457 ' E, 14 - 25 m depth, coll. Y. Benayahu, 4 September 2012; ZMTAU Co 35729, details as before, two specimens; ZMTAU Co 35731, details as before, three specimens; ZMTAU Co 35736, Co 35737, Dabaisha, Green Is., 22 ° 38.284 ' N, 121 ° 29.457 ' E, 11 - 15 m depth, coll. Y. Benayahu, 4 September 2012; ZMTAU Co 35742, details as before, two specimens; ZMTAU Co 35747, Co 35748, Co 35750, Co 35753, Iron Artificial Reef, Green Is., 22 ° 38 ' 33 " N, 121 ° 28 ' 31 " E, 20 - 26 m depth, coll. Y. Benayahu, 5 September 2012; ZMTAU Co 35752, details as before, three specimens, ZMTAU Co 35756, Co 35758, Co 35760, Co 35763, Co 35765, Co 35774, Shihlang, Green Is., 22 ° 39.425 ' N, 121 ° 28.399 ' E, 7 - 10 m depth, coll. Y. Benayahu, 5 September 2012; ZMTAU Co 35759, details as before, two specimens; ZMTAU Co 36232, Co 36235, Shihlang, Green Is., 22 ° 39 ' 17.91 " N, 121 ° 28 ' 26.41 " E, 6 - 11 m depth, coll. Y. Benayahu, 26 August 2013; ZMTAU Co 36247, details as before, four specimens; ZMTAU Co 36255, Gueiwan, Green Is., 22 ° 38 ' 41 " N, 121 ° 28 ' 26 " E, 10 - 18 m depth, coll. Y. Benayahu, 27 August 2013, two specimens; MAYOTTE: ZMTAU Co 37403, Glorioso Is., 11 ° 34.880 ' S, 47 ° 16.862 ' E, 10 - 11.5 m depth, coll. M. Schleyer, 20 November 2016, two specimens; ZMTAU Co 37430, Saziley, 12 ° 59.138 ' S, 45 ° 10.947 ' E, 3 - 4 m depth, coll. M. Schleyer, 26 June 2011; ZMTAU Co 37431, Station East Bouzi, 12 ° 48.739 ' S, 45 ° 14.543 ' E, 5 - 10 m depth, coll. M. Schleyer, 24 June 2011; MAURITIUS: BMNH 1912.2.24.65; BMNH 1912.2.24.66; Cargados Carajos, 20 - 25 m depth; BMNH 1933.3.13.175, Cargados Carajos, 20 - 25 m depth, coll. J. A. Thomson; BMNH 1933.3.13.176, Cargados Carajos, 20 - 30 m depth, Percy Sladen Trust Expedition, coll. J. A. Thomson; BMNH 1933.5.3.301, Port East Africa, Sir J. A. Thomson Expedition, 11 November 1907; MALAYSIA: BMNH 1985.4.17.20, NE Borneo, Sabah, Semporna, Pulau-Pulau Mantanani. AUSTRALIA: USNM 60795, Great Barrier Reef, Myrmidon Reef, Northern Reef, 17 ° 00 ' S, 146 ° 00 ' E Queensland, 1982; INDONESIA: RMNH Coel 42158, SW Sulawesi, Spermonde Archipelago, west of Lumu-Lumu Is.; RMNH Coel 42159, N Sulawesi, Bunaken park, ESE Siladen Is.; RMNH Coel 42161, Snellius II Exp. Station 4.139, NE Taka Bone Rate (Tiger Is.), S. of Tarupa Kecil, edge of reef flat, 06 ° 30 ' S, 121 ° 08 ' E, SCUBA, snorkeling on sea grass bed, 30 m depth, 25 - 26 September, 13 and 17 October 1984; RMNH Coel 42162, N. Sulawesi, Selat Lembeh, Pulau Lembeh, N of Pulau Burung, 01 ° 29 ' N, 125 ° 15 ' E; sandy bay merging to the north in stony boulders beach, stony and soft corals, SCUBA, 22 October 1994, 2 - 25 m depth, coll. L. P. van Ofwegen; RMNH Coel 42163 N. Sulawesi, Selat Lembeh, Pulau Lembeh, Air Bajo, near Kereko, Nusu Dua; SUL 13, 01 ° 29 ' N, 125 ° 15 ' E; sandy bay between rocks, N-exposed, gently sloping bottom with large boulders, snorkeling 5 m depth, 21 October 1994, coll. J. C. Den Hartog; RMNH Coel 42165, Buginesia Prog. UNHAS-NNM, SW Sulawesi. Spermonde Archipelago N of Kudingareg Keke (= 14 km WNW of Makassar), 5 ° 06 ' S, 119 ° 17 ' E, SCUBA, 5 - 25 m depth, 1994 Sul. KK SW, 14 October 1994, coll. B. W. Hoeksema; RMNH Coel 42166, Buginesia Prog. UNHAS-NNM, SW Sulawesi, Spermonde Archipelago N of Langkai Is. (= 37 km WNW of Makassar), 5 ° 02 ' S, 119 ° 05 ' E, coral reef, SCUBA, 24 June 1994, coll. B. W. Hoeksema; RMNH Coel 42167, Buginesia Prog. UNHAS-NNM, SW Sulawesi, Spermonde Archipelago N of Langkai Is. (= 37 km WNW of Makassar), 5 ° 02 ' S, 119 ° 05 ' E, coral reef, SCUBA, 24 June 1994, coll. B. W. Hoeksema; RMNH Coel 42170, Buginesia Prog. UNHAS-NNM, SW Sulawesi, Spermonde Archipelago, N of Kudingareng Keke (= 14 km WNW of Makassar), 5 ° 0 ' S, 119 ° 17 ' E, SCUBA, 1994 Sul. KK SW, 5 September 1994, coll. B. W. Hoeksema; PHILIPPINES: RMNH Coel 42160, Cebu strait Expedition, Station CEB. 13.	en	Benayahu, Yehuda, Ofwegen, Leen P. van, McFadden, Catherine S. (2018): Evaluating the genus Cespitularia MilneEdwards & Haime, 1850 with descriptions of new genera of the family Xeniidae (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea). ZooKeys 754: 63-101, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.754.23368, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.754.23368
5E6FD19A0298891C8523200F3DA09AF3.taxon	description	Notes to previous description. The original description of C. coerulea by May (1898) referred to a colony from Kokotoni, Zanzibar. Later, May (1899) repeated the description, referring to colonies collected from that location in 1889 by Stuhlmann and from Zanzibar in 1885 by Sander, deposited in Hamburg and Berlin museums, respectively. During a visit by the senior author to ZMH two colonies were found labeled as the type of C. coerulea, both collected in Kokotoni, Zanzibar, 24 July 1895 (leg. Stuhlman). Similarly, in a subsequent visit to ZMB two colonies were found, labeled as syntypes of C. coerulea, collected in Zanzibar, 1895 (leg. Sander). Both ZMH and ZMB colonies are considered to be the original syntypes of that species and are re-described below.	en	Benayahu, Yehuda, Ofwegen, Leen P. van, McFadden, Catherine S. (2018): Evaluating the genus Cespitularia MilneEdwards & Haime, 1850 with descriptions of new genera of the family Xeniidae (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea). ZooKeys 754: 63-101, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.754.23368, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.754.23368
5E6FD19A0298891C8523200F3DA09AF3.taxon	description	Description. ZMH C 2518 consists of two colonies; the first is 8.5 cm high by 4.2 cm wide and the second 5 cm high by 4 cm wide (Figure 1 A). The polypary of these colonies is branched and their tips are bent. They bear non-retractile polyps, with some occurring towards the upper part of the colony's base. The polyp body is up to 8 mm long and the tentacles are up to 3 mm long; the latter bear one row of pinnules and 16 - 18 pinnules along each edge. The pinnules are short, pointed and evenly placed along the tentacle, with a narrow space of less than a pinnule width between adjacent ones. The preserved colonies are pale gray- almost white. Sclerites could not be found in the upper part of the branches or in the polyps. However, the lower part of the branches, including the base of the colonies, feature conglomerates, comprised of spherules and small dumbbell-like sclerites, mostly cemented (Figure 2). The spherules are about 0.002 - 0.006 mm in diameter (Figures 2 A, E-G), with a rather rough surface-texture. The abundance of the dumbbells (Figures 2 B-D, F) may exceed that of the spheroids. The former vary in size, with a length of 0.003 - 0.006 mm. The conglomerate nature of the sclerites exhibits a large morphological variation as demonstrated in Figure 2. The syntype ZMB Cni 3671 (Figure 1 B) resembles syntype ZMH 2518, except for the size of the colonies. Most of the polyps of the former are expanded, well-preserved, and thus recognizable on the branches of the colony. The sclerites are similar, conglomerated spheres and spherules along with some double-heads (Figure 3), but are less common in the tissues compared to ZMH C 2518. Under the light microscope wet preparations of the tentacles removed from ZMB Cni 3671 revealed some conglomerates along with spheres of various sizes. The type material of Cespitularia taeniata (ZMH C 2519) comprises two flaccid colonies and two additional fragments (Figure 1 C). The colonies are 3 - 4.5 cm high by 2 - 2.5 cm wide. Their polyparies consist of short branches bearing non-retractile polyps; some polyps were also found on the upper part of the stalk. The tentacles feature one row of 16 - 18 pointed pinnules, evenly placed along the edges with a free space between adjacent ones. Sclerites were found in the base of the colonies and the branches (Figure 4) but none in the polyps. They are conglomerates comprised mainly of spherules (Figure 4 A) and some predominantly of spheres (Figure 4 B), the latter measuring up to 0.018 mm in diameter. In addition, some cylinder-like small sclerites featuring round tips are also found, measuring 0.002 - 0.003 mm (Figure 4 C). It should be noted that the aggregates tend to disintegrate during the sclerite preparation and therefore their actual dimensions cannot be determined. A colony labeled as ZMH C 2375 (Figure 1 D) features tentacles with 12 - 14 pinnules and sclerites similar to ZMH C 2519. ZMH C 2375 is listed in the museum's catalog as the " Typus von Ammothea bauiana May, 1898 " along with a note that Gohar had corrected the identification in 1938 to C. taeniata. Both colonies, ZMH C 2519 and ZMH C 2375, are light gray-beige. Conglomeratusclera taeniata was described by Thomson and Dean (1931: 33) as being " near to but distinct from Cespitularia coerulea ". The current findings indicate that there are only some small morphological differ ences in the colony and polyp dimensions between the two species, and therefore, the above statement appears reasonable. Utinomi (1950) described the C. taeniata specimen identified by him as having 10 - 12 pinnules, slightly lower in range compared to the 12 - 14 pinnules of C 2375. The current examination of the types of both C. coerulea and C. taeniata revealed that despite the erroneous statement that they have no sclerites, they feature quite similar sclerites. It is therefore suggested that the similarity between the two species indicates that the above-reported morphological differences in the number of pinnules of the two types represent intra-specific variation. The sequencing results obtained in the current study along with the morphological findings further substantiate this conclusion, as colonies with a single row of 8 - 22 pinnules share similar DNA sequences (see ahead). Therefore, it is concluded that C. coerulea and C. taeniata sensu stricto should be synonymized, and both are now designated under Conglomeratusclera coerulea.	en	Benayahu, Yehuda, Ofwegen, Leen P. van, McFadden, Catherine S. (2018): Evaluating the genus Cespitularia MilneEdwards & Haime, 1850 with descriptions of new genera of the family Xeniidae (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea). ZooKeys 754: 63-101, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.754.23368, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.754.23368
5E6FD19A0298891C8523200F3DA09AF3.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Kenya; Zanzibar; Tanzania; Glorioso Islands; Mauritius; Seychelles; Mayotte; Taiwan; Philippines; Japan (Tanabe, Wakayama, Shikoku); Ryukyu Archipelago; Indonesia.	en	Benayahu, Yehuda, Ofwegen, Leen P. van, McFadden, Catherine S. (2018): Evaluating the genus Cespitularia MilneEdwards & Haime, 1850 with descriptions of new genera of the family Xeniidae (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea). ZooKeys 754: 63-101, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.754.23368, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.754.23368
511F0F8CE4B8593D6BDC832BDDB2C2FD.taxon	description	Description. Examination of the type material of Cespitularia robusta Tixier-Durivault, 1966 (MNH 00000167) revealed five colonies (Figure 26), all in agreement with their original description. The tentacles bear two rows of pinnules along each side with an indication of a third row; the outermost row features 12 - 15 pinnules. The sclerites depicted in the original description are spheres and spherules, also in the form of aggregates (p. 356: fig. 321 C-N). The SEM images of the sclerites (Figure 27) reveal morphologies similar to those found in C. coerulea (see above), and therefore led us to assign the species to Conglomeratusclera n. gen instead of Cespitularia. Subsequent examination of C. robusta (RMNH Coel 38672), identified by Janes (2008), similarly confirmed his findings but based on the sclerite SEM images of that colony (Figure 28), the generic assignment is likewise changed to Conglomeratusclera. The colonies assigned by us to C. coerulea feature one row of pinnules along the margins of the tentacles, whereas C. robusta has two rows. In order to determine whether a difference in pinnule-row count is indeed diagnostic for species delineation in Conglomeratusclera, corresponding fresh colonies with two pinnule-rows should be sequenced. Therefore, for the time being only the generic status of C. robusta is changed, making it the second species in the new genus.	en	Benayahu, Yehuda, Ofwegen, Leen P. van, McFadden, Catherine S. (2018): Evaluating the genus Cespitularia MilneEdwards & Haime, 1850 with descriptions of new genera of the family Xeniidae (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea). ZooKeys 754: 63-101, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.754.23368, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.754.23368
511F0F8CE4B8593D6BDC832BDDB2C2FD.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Mayotte; Aride Island, Seychelles.	en	Benayahu, Yehuda, Ofwegen, Leen P. van, McFadden, Catherine S. (2018): Evaluating the genus Cespitularia MilneEdwards & Haime, 1850 with descriptions of new genera of the family Xeniidae (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea). ZooKeys 754: 63-101, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.754.23368, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.754.23368
9EBD0EF6C4B5BF12310F1AC647ACC076.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Colonies quite flaccid with a distinct but short encrusting base bearing primary lobes, sometimes divided into secondary ones. Non-retractile monomorphic polyps found on the lobes and occasionally down on some parts of the base. The spherical-oval sclerites are composed of a myriad of densely packed chip-like microscleres. Zooxanthellate.	en	Benayahu, Yehuda, Ofwegen, Leen P. van, McFadden, Catherine S. (2018): Evaluating the genus Cespitularia MilneEdwards & Haime, 1850 with descriptions of new genera of the family Xeniidae (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea). ZooKeys 754: 63-101, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.754.23368, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.754.23368
9EBD0EF6C4B5BF12310F1AC647ACC076.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The generic name refers to the microstructure of the sclerites, which are composed of multitudes of microscleres, resembling aggregates of cement chips. The name is derived from the Latin caementum, cement, and abunda meaning copious. Gender feminine.	en	Benayahu, Yehuda, Ofwegen, Leen P. van, McFadden, Catherine S. (2018): Evaluating the genus Cespitularia MilneEdwards & Haime, 1850 with descriptions of new genera of the family Xeniidae (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea). ZooKeys 754: 63-101, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.754.23368, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.754.23368
4931309F39C9DC3EBC5C00AC1FD6D815.taxon	materials_examined	Material. Syntype: INDONESIA: ZMA 2344, Siboga Exped., Sta. 40, 12 m depth, Kawassang. Other material: SEYCHELLES: RMNH Coel 38673, Southern coast of Aride I. (04 ° 13 ' S; 55 ° 40 ' E), <20 m depth, 18 December 1992; MADAGASCAR: RMNH Coel 6697, Nosy Be, west of Andilina, 24 August, 1967, 20 m depth; RMNH Coel 42168, Stn. 22, 21 December 1999; RMNH Coel 42169; PHILIPPINES: Cebu Strait Exped., Sta. CEB. 1, Cebu Strait, Olango Channel, east side of Olango Is., USNM 60493, Sulu Archipelago, 6 ° 07 ' N, 121 ° 00 ' E, R / V Albatross; AUSTRALIA: USNM 60794, Flinders Reef, Great Barrier Reef, November 1981; BMNH 1934.3.28.8, Great Barrier Reef Exped., Sta. 10, dredge, 22 February 1929; 1982.11.17, Great Barrier Reef, Flinders Reef, South Coral Sea, southern outer slope, 10 - 15 m depth, coll. Z. Dinesen; BMNH 1982.11.18, similar details; JAPAN: ZMTAU Co 31642, off Danno, Yonaguni Is., Ryukyu Archipelago, 24 ° 27 ' N, 122 ° 57 ' E, 15 m depth, coll. Y. Benayahu, 13 November 1992; ZMTAU Co 31638, Mao Cave, Shimoji Is., Ryukyu Archipelago, 10 m depth, coll. Y. Benayahu, 19 November 1992; ZMTAU Co 35120, Umabanazaki Point, Yonaguni Is., Ryukyu Archipelago, 8 - 12 m depth, coll. Y. Benayahu, 3 June 2010; MADAGASCAR: ZMTAU Co 36057, three specimens; ZMTAU Co 36076, 4 Freres, 13 ° 00.142 ' S, 48 ° 29.099 ' E, 6 - 14 m depth, coll. Y. Benayahu, 2 December 2012; ZMTAU Co 36065, 4 Freres, 12 ° 59.655 ' S, 48 ° 29.248 ' E, 4 - 15 m depth, coll. Y. Benayahu, 1 December 2012, four specimens; ZMTAU Co 36115, Ronald Point, Nosy Be, 13 ° 23.530 ' S, 48 ° 00.143 ' E, 19 - 27 m depth, coll. Y. Benayahu, 3 December 2012; ZMTAU Co 36122, Ronald Point, Nosy Be, 13 ° 29.032 ' S, 47 ° 58.721 ' E, 2 - 4 m depth, coll. Y. Benayahu, 03 December 2012, two specimens; ZMTAU Co 36127, details as before; TAIWAN: Co 33021, Chaikou, Green Is., Taiwan, 22 ° 40 ' 40 " N, 121 ° 28 ' 20 " E, 3 - 6 m depth, coll. Y. Benayahu, 13 July 2005; ZMTAU Co 35715, Shihlang, Green Is., 22 ° 39.425 ' N, 121 ° 28.399 ' E, 8 - 12 m depth, coll. Y. Benayahu, 3 September 2012; ZMTAU Co 33022, Lomenyen, Green Is., 22 ° 40 ' 56 " N, 121 ° 30 ' 06 " E, 3 - 25 m depth, coll. Y. Benayahu, 12 July 2005; ZMTAU Co 35713, details as before, three specimens; ZMTAU Co 35701, details as before, four specimens; ZMTAU Co 35757, Shihlang, Green Is., 22 ° 39.425 ' N, 121 ° 28.399 ' E, 7 - 10 m depth, coll. Y. Benayahu, 5 September 2012, four specimens.	en	Benayahu, Yehuda, Ofwegen, Leen P. van, McFadden, Catherine S. (2018): Evaluating the genus Cespitularia MilneEdwards & Haime, 1850 with descriptions of new genera of the family Xeniidae (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea). ZooKeys 754: 63-101, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.754.23368, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.754.23368
4931309F39C9DC3EBC5C00AC1FD6D815.taxon	description	Description. The syntype RMNH Coel 2344 consists of three encrusting lobed colonies attached to calcareous fragments. The largest syntype is 3 cm high by 5 cm wide, the second 1.5 by 2.5 cm, and the third 2 by 3.5 cm (Figure 29). The finger-like lobes feature non-retractile polyps, some of which are found on the colony base. The polyp body is up to 2.8 mm long and the tentacles are up to 1.0 mm long. The tentacles bear one row of 12 - 14 pinnules along each of their margins. The short pinnules are closely set, with no space between adjacent ones. The preserved colonies are brown-beige. Sclerites are highly abundant and found in all parts of the colony. Under the light microscope they are ovoid or pear-shaped as fully confirmed by SEM (Figure 30 A), measuring up to 0.022 mm in length. Occasionally they are arranged in groups (Figure 30 B), but during preparation they tend to dissociate and become sin gles. SEM revealed the unique microstructure of the sclerites, which comprise densely packed chip-like microscleres (Figure 30 C), giving the sclerite surface the appearance of cement-chip aggregates (Figure 30 D).	en	Benayahu, Yehuda, Ofwegen, Leen P. van, McFadden, Catherine S. (2018): Evaluating the genus Cespitularia MilneEdwards & Haime, 1850 with descriptions of new genera of the family Xeniidae (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea). ZooKeys 754: 63-101, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.754.23368, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.754.23368
4931309F39C9DC3EBC5C00AC1FD6D815.taxon	materials_examined	Other material. All other material (see above) features the same sclerites described above for the syntype (Figure 30). Macfadyen (1936: 27) described in a colony from the Great Barrier Reef Expedition numerous minute discs about 0.010 mm in diameter, finely sculptured. The current examination of that colony (BMNH 1934.3.28.8) revealed Caementabunda - type sclerites. Likewise, RMNH Coel 38673 from Seychelles (see Janes 2008) and ZMTAU Co 31642 (Figure 36) feature this type of sclerite, as do USNM 60793 and 60794 collected in the Philippines (USNM 60793: Figure 37). Based on the current findings all of these colonies were assigned to the new genus.	en	Benayahu, Yehuda, Ofwegen, Leen P. van, McFadden, Catherine S. (2018): Evaluating the genus Cespitularia MilneEdwards & Haime, 1850 with descriptions of new genera of the family Xeniidae (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea). ZooKeys 754: 63-101, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.754.23368, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.754.23368
4931309F39C9DC3EBC5C00AC1FD6D815.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Green Island, Taiwan; Philippines; Great Barrier Reef; Sulawesi; Madagascar; Seychelles.	en	Benayahu, Yehuda, Ofwegen, Leen P. van, McFadden, Catherine S. (2018): Evaluating the genus Cespitularia MilneEdwards & Haime, 1850 with descriptions of new genera of the family Xeniidae (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea). ZooKeys 754: 63-101, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.754.23368, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.754.23368
