identifier	taxonID	type	CVterm	format	language	title	description	additionalInformationURL	UsageTerms	rights	Owner	contributor	creator	bibliographicCitation
8D087337BB36ABFD5E9FFD3BA30793D1.text	8D087337BB36ABFD5E9FFD3BA30793D1.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Conglomeratusclera	<div><p>Conglomeratusclera gen. n.</p><p>Type species.</p><p>Cespitularia coerulea May, 1898: 21</p><p>Diagnosis.</p><p>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.</p><p>Etymology.</p><p>The generic name is derived from Latin conglomerātus, 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.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/8D087337BB36ABFD5E9FFD3BA30793D1	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Benayahu, Yehuda;Ofwegen, Leen P. van;McFadden, Catherine S.	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.text	5E6FD19A0298891C8523200F3DA09AF3.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Conglomeratusclera coerulea (May 1898) May 1898	<div><p>Conglomeratusclera coerulea (May, 1898) Figures 1 A–B, 2, 3, 4, 5 A–B, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25</p><p>Cespitularia coerulea May, 1898: 21; May 1899: 90, plate I, fig. 10; Kükenthal 1902: 659; Thomson and Henderson 1906: 414-415; Thomson and Mackinnon 1910: 173, plate 12, fig. 5; Hickson 1931: 162 (listed only); Thomson and Dean 1931: 32-33; Roxas 1933: 106, plate 4, fig. 6; Malyutin 1992: 2 (listed only); Benayahu et al. 2004: 551 (listed only).</p><p>Cespitularia taeniata May, 1899: 89-90; Kükenthal 1902: 659, Hickson 1931: 162; Utinomi 1950: 14-15, fig 3b, c; 1954: 102 (listed only); Thomson and Mackinnon 1910: 172, Thomson and Dean 1931: 33.</p><p>Material.</p><p>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.</p><p>Other material.</p><p>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 &amp; 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, Ankaréa, 12°50.054'S, 48°34.563'E, 6-9 m depth, coll. Y. Benayahu, 29 November 2012; ZMTAU Co 36055, Co 36063, 4 Fréres, 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.</p><p>Notes to previous description.</p><p>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.</p><p>Description.</p><p>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 1A). 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 2A, 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 1B) 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.</p><p>The type material of Cespitularia taeniata (ZMH C 2519) comprises two flaccid colonies and two additional fragments (Figure 1C). 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 4A) and some predominantly of spheres (Figure 4B), 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 4C). It should be noted that the aggregates tend to disintegrate during the sclerite preparation and therefore their actual dimensions cannot be determined.</p><p>A colony labeled as ZMH C 2375 (Figure 1D) 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 .</p><p>Remarks.</p><p>The original descriptions of Cespitularia coerulea by May (1898, 1899) indicated an absence of sclerites in the colony. In contrast, the current findings dem onstrate the presence in the syntypes of a novel type of sclerite, depicted here for the first time. These sclerites are composed of agglomerated calcite-constructed minute substructures of various morphologies, mostly spherules, spheres, and double heads appearing in different arrangements. They were probably overlooked in previous stud ies due to their minute size and also occasional low abundance. Moreover, the unusual irregular sclerite morphology with almost no definite structure (Figures 2-4), may have caused the misinterpretation concerning their potential as octocoral sclerites to be used as diagnostic characters for taxonomic purposes.</p><p>Since the original description of C. coerulea a number of studies have assigned specimens to that species. Thomson and Henderson (1906) identified a multi-branched colony from Zanzibar, with one row of pinnules and no sclerites. Later, Thomson and Mackinnon (1910) described a similar colony from Cargados Carajos (Mauritius), noting that when alive the colony was "vivid grass green, but after preservation it faded to cream", a feature that has been widely observed in the current study (see below). Thomson and Dean (1931) identified C. coerulea from Kawas sang, Indonesia, obtained in the course of the Siboga Expedition, featuring a single row of pinnules and no sclerites, with no mention of the number of pinnules in the polyps. Next, Roxas (1933) identified the same species from Sabang, near Puerto Galera, Mindoro, Philippines, with one row of 14-18 pinnules and no sclerites. Interestingly, that study of Roxas’s study was the first to indicate number of the pinnules in that species. In general, the above octocoral samples are in agreement with the original description by May (1898), but all the above authors nonetheless failed to detect any sclerites.</p><p>Color.</p><p>When alive, the color of colonies ranges from vibrantly bluish-purple, light green, light yellow-beige, light cream to almost white (see Figure 5A, B). The alcohol-preserved colonies lose their vibrant colors and mostly become pale cream, gray, or beige.</p><p>Morphological variation.</p><p>In the current study, examination of the colonies from Green Is., Yonaguni Is. and Madagascar was based on both morphological characters (colony shape, pinnule count, and sclerite features), along with DNA sequencing; the latter enabled us to construct a phylogenetic tree (Figure 6). In general, the colony shape of all the colonies listed in Material Examined was in agreement with the syntypes shown above, except for colony size. All colonies exhibited one row of pinnules along the margins of the polyp tentacles, with a variable number of pinnules, ranging from 8 to 22 per row. In some colonies the tentacles were partially or completely withdrawn or the pinnules fully contracted, probably due to the preservation process. In several cases the polyps were fully expanded and in others partially or fully contracted.</p><p>The following findings denote the number of pinnules found in some of the sequenced colonies (Figure 6), demonstrating the variability in pinnule count. The respective colonies from Green Island are ZMTAU Co 35717: 8, Co 35747: 8, Co 35774: 8, Co 35742: 8-9, Co 35750: 8-9, Co 35753: 8-9, Co 35714: 10-11, Co 35712: 11-12, Co 33045: 11-16, Co 35692: 11-16, Co 35707: 11-16, Co 35699: 12-15, Co 35709: 15, Co 35758: 15, Co 35693: 15-16, Co 35729: 15-18, Co 35693: 16, Co 35725: 16-17, Co 35748: 16-18, Co 35763: 18-20, Co 35756: 20, Co 35760: 20, Co 35736: 21-22 and Co 35737: 21-22; colonies with fully contracted pinnules Co 35706, Co 35708, Co 35710, Co 35731, Co 35752, Co 35765, and Co 35766. Colonies from Yonaguni Is are ZMTAU Co 35131: 9-12 pinnules, Co 35132: 12-14 and Co 35134: 11-13. Colonies from Madagascar: ZMTAU Co 36013: 10-13 pinnules and Co 36129: 12-13.</p><p>The sclerites of the colonies noted above featured the full array of morphologies, mostly corresponding to that of the syntypes (Figures 2-3). To demonstrate the vast variation in shape and size of the sclerites, SEM images of sclerites of several sequenced colonies are presented for the Taiwan material: ZMTAU Co 35692 (Figure 7), Co 35737 (Figure 8), Co 35765 (Figure 9), Co 35709 (Figure 10), Co 35707 (Figure 11), Co 35710 (Figure 12), and Co 35712 (Figure 13), Yonaguni: ZMTAU Co 35131 (Figure 14) and Madagascar Co 36129 (Figure 15), and Co 36013 (Figure 16). Figures 7-16 demonstrate the morphological variability of the sclerites, with all being conglomerates comprised mainly of spheres and spherules and occasionally dumbbells. The SEM images revealed that their outer surface is sometimes bristly (Figures 7 B–D, 8B, 13 A–B, 14, 15A, 17) but commonly rather smooth (Figures 8A, 10 A–B, 11 A–B, 15B, 16). It is interesting to note that the spheres are sometimes embedded in a calcareous lamella-like structure (Figure 7A). Dumbbells were revealed in some colonies (Figures 8B, 12B, 14, 15C, 17) as well as twisted dumbbells (Figures 9, 11C, 12B). Similarly, as noted above for the syntypes, the above SEM images indicate that the aggregates tend to disintegrate during sclerite preparation and therefore their actual dimensions cannot be determined.</p><p>The molecular results indicate that despite the differences in pinnule count and sclerite morphology, all the colonies should be assigned to the same species (Figure 6). Consequently, the pinnule count is of no diagnostic value for species delineation within Conglomeratusclera . C. coerulea thus accommodates colonies with one row of pinnules on the margins of the polyp tentacles, but featuring a remarkable range of pinnule numbers (see above). In addition, the variable sclerite morphologies found in the different colonies (Figures 7-16) both encompass and exceed the range observed among the syntypes of C. coerulea (Figures 2 A–B). The current results provide further support for the recent findings of McFadden et al. (2017) who argue that the pinnule count used in the taxonomy of Xeniidae, explicitly in the genus Ovabunda (see references in Halàsz et al. 2014), is not indicative of species boundaries. It should be noted that in contrast to the relatively uniform morphology of Ovabunda sclerites recorded across the four genetic clades presented by McFadden et al. (2017), colonies of C. coerulea exhibit an unprecedented and bewildering array of sclerite morphologies (Figures 2A, B, 7-16).</p><p>Material that was examined, but not sequenced, comprised both freshly collected colonies and museum specimens. Their colony and polyp morphologies, including the pinnule counts, are in agreement with the findings presented above. Noteworthy are some colonies for which SEM or light microscopy could not detect any sclerites. There are several suggested reasons for this: (1) actual lack of sclerites; (2) their low incidence which led to a failure to detect them by SEM; or (3) preservation procedures, such as acidic conditions that may have caused sclerite dissolution.</p><p>The museum material examined included colonies from the BMNH, all collected from the western Indian Ocean (see above). Some of the colonies were originally identified by L.M.I. Macfadyen as Cespitularia coerulea (BMNH 1912.2.24.66 and 1933.3.13.175; Figure 17), C. mollis (BMNH 1933.313.177), C. taeniata (BMNH 1912.2.24.65, 1933.5.3.301 and 1933.3.13.176) and Cespitularia wisharti Hickson, 1931 (BMNH 1934.3.28.10). These BMNH colonies feature one row of 8-13 pinnules along each side of their tentacles and the morphology of their sclerites corresponds to that of Conglomeratuscslera coerulea [e.g., BMNH 1912.2.24.65 (Figure 18), 1912.2.24.66 (Figure 19), 1912.2.24.67 (Figure 20)]. The morphological examination therefore indicates that the BMNH material should be assigned to the above species. The sclerites of the colony from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia, USNM 60795 (Figure 21), as well as those of USNM 54000 and 54003 (sclerites not shown), collected in Madagascar, similarly confirmed them to be C. coerulea . The RMNH material too revealed colonies that have now been assigned by us to C. coerulea, featuring one row of 8-16 pinnules along each side of their tentacles as well as sclerites: RMNH Coel 42160 (Figure 22), Coel 42161 (Figures 23-24) and RMNH Coel 42162 (Figure 25). These images reveal spheres, either in a conglomerated form or individuals (Figures 22-25), and in other colonies mostly twisted dumbbells, either aggregated or individual (Figure 22). Interestingly, some crystalline bundles were noted among the spheres (Figure 24).</p><p>Distribution.</p><p>Kenya; Zanzibar; Tanzania; Glorioso Islands; Mauritius; Seychelles; Mayotte; Taiwan; Philippines; Japan (Tanabe, Wakayama, Shikoku); Ryukyu Archipelago; Indonesia.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/5E6FD19A0298891C8523200F3DA09AF3	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Benayahu, Yehuda;Ofwegen, Leen P. van;McFadden, Catherine S.	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.text	511F0F8CE4B8593D6BDC832BDDB2C2FD.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Conglomeratusclera robusta (Tixier-Durivault 1966) Tixier-Durivault 1966	<div><p>Conglomeratusclera robusta (Tixier-Durivault, 1966) Figures 26, 27, 28</p><p>Cespitularia robusta Tixier-Durivault, 1966: 335-356; Janes 2008: 604-605.</p><p>Description.</p><p>Examination of the type material of Cespitularia robusta Tixier-Durivault, 1966 (MNH00000167) 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 .</p><p>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.</p><p>Distribution.</p><p>Mayotte; Aride Island, Seychelles.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/511F0F8CE4B8593D6BDC832BDDB2C2FD	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Benayahu, Yehuda;Ofwegen, Leen P. van;McFadden, Catherine S.	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.text	9EBD0EF6C4B5BF12310F1AC647ACC076.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Caementabunda	<div><p>Caementabunda gen. n.</p><p>Type species.</p><p>Cespitularia simplex Thomson &amp; Dean, 1931</p><p>Diagnosis.</p><p>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.</p><p>Etymology.</p><p>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.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/9EBD0EF6C4B5BF12310F1AC647ACC076	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Benayahu, Yehuda;Ofwegen, Leen P. van;McFadden, Catherine S.	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.text	4931309F39C9DC3EBC5C00AC1FD6D815.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Caementabunda simplex (Thomson & Dean 1931) Thomson & Dean 1931	<div><p>Caementabunda simplex (Thomson &amp; Dean, 1931) Figures 5 C–D, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37</p><p>Cespitularia simplex Thomson &amp; Dean, 1931: 33-34; Macfadyen 1936:27; Verseveldt 1971: 62; Janes 2008: 606-608; Janes 2013: 198 (listed only); McFadden et al. 2014: 249 (listed only), Cespitularia turgida Verseveldt, 1971: 61-62.</p><p>Material.</p><p>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), &lt;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 Frères, 13°00.142'S, 48°29.099'E, 6-14 m depth, coll. Y. Benayahu, 2 December 2012; ZMTAU Co 36065, 4 Frères, 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.</p><p>Description.</p><p>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 30A), measuring up to 0.022 mm in length. Occasionally they are arranged in groups (Figure 30B), 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 30C), giving the sclerite surface the appearance of cement-chip aggregates (Figure 30D).</p><p>Color.</p><p>Live colonies are brown with yellow polyps (Figures 5 C–D).</p><p>Remarks.</p><p>The original description of the type by Thomson &amp; Dean (1931: 34) is in agreement with the current findings, and indicates 10-12 pinnules compared to 12-14 noted by us. The sclerite size of 0.01 mm as given in the original description is incorrect and was later corrected by Verseveldt (1971). The latter study provides a better description of the sclerites as oblong, pear-like or angular in shape, 0.015-0.021 mm in diameter. The light microscopy used in the past clearly could not have revealed the unique surface microstructure of that species (Figure 30D).</p><p>Examination of the type of Cespitularia turgida Verseveldt, 1971 (RMNH Coel 6607) revealed Caementabunda -type sclerites (Figure 31). In the original description Verseveldt (1971: 62) presented a comparison between the type of C. simplex and his new species and noted the number of pinnules in the single row of both species being 10-12 in the latter vs. 5-6 in the former. The current examination of the type of C. turgida has confirmed the original morphological findings, while we also present here for the first time images of its sclerites.</p><p>Dr. Zena Dinesen (Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Queensland) provided us with an unpublished taxonomic manuscript dealing with some Xeniidae of Flinders Reefs, Great Barrier Reef. Under the collection numbers BMNH 1982.11.17 and 1982.11.18 there are colonies labeled as paratypes of Efflatounaria flindensis Dinesen. Recently Dr. Dinesen confirmed that these two colonies are provisional paratypes of unpublished species presented in her manuscript. Our examination of the colonies revealed Caementabunda -type sclerites (BMNH 1982.11.17: figure 32, 1982.11.17: figure 33). In addition, it confirmed the unpublished morphological description of the material which states that the pinnules: "Mostly very contracted, difficult to measure, in one row on each side of the tentacle with 5-12 (6-9) pinnules per row". Hence, the pinnule number corresponds to the original types of both C. simplex and of C. turgida . Similarly, examination of ZMTAU Co 35757 from Taiwan revealed Caementabunda -type sclerites (Figure 34) and 10-12 pinnules in a row, and ZMTAU Co 36127 and Co 36122 from Madagascar both had Caementabunda -type sclerites (Co 36122: figure 35) and 7-11 pinnules, thus falling within the range stated above. Based on these findings, it is concluded here that pinnule count is not diagnostic for species delineation in the newly-described genus Caementabunda . Similarly, it is concluded that Cespitularia turgida is a junior synonym of Caementabunda simplex and thus that both should be accommodated within this new genus.</p><p>Other material.</p><p>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.</p><p>Distribution .</p><p>Green Island, Taiwan; Philippines; Great Barrier Reef; Sulawesi; Madagascar; Seychelles.</p><p>Molecular phylogenetic results.</p><p>Sequences of mtMutS (582 bp), igr1+COI (767 bp) and 28S rDNA (755 bp) were obtained from 46 individuals of Conglomeratusclera and nine individuals of Caementabunda from three different geographical locations: Madagascar; Green Is., Taiwan; Yonaguni Is., Japan (GenBank accession nos. MH071812-MH071969). All phylogenetic analyses of individual gene regions as well as the concatenated alignment (2104 bp) recovered trees in which specimens of Conglomeratusclera and Caementabunda formed two separate, well-supported clades (Figure 6). The average pairwise genetic distance (K2p) among individuals belonging to the two different clades was 3.6%, a value comparable to or higher than that observed among most other genera of xeniids (Figure 6).</p><p>All individuals of Conglomeratusclera shared identical sequences at mtMutS and COI, with just two exceptions: a single individual from Taiwan (ZMTAU Co35731) that differed by 0.2% at mtMutS; and one from Madagascar (ZMTAU Co36055) that differed by 0.4% at COI. Variation at the 28S rDNA locus ranged from 0-1.5%. Although a group of nine Conglomeratusclera colonies from Taiwan shared a 28S genotype that differed from all others by three nucleotide substitutions (0.4%), there was no significant bootstrap or a posteriori support for them as a separate clade, and no obvious morphological differences to suggest that they might represent a different species.</p><p>All Caementabunda specimens also shared identical mtMutS and COI sequences, with the exception of a single individual (ZMTAU Co 36076) that differed by 0.1% at COI. At 28S rDNA pairwise genetic distances (K2p) among individuals ranged from 0-0.8%, and a group of three specimens from Madagascar (ZMTAU Co 36065, Co 36076, Co 36122) differed from all others by three nucleotide substitutions. There was, however, no significant support for this clade, and no apparent morphological differences between these individuals and others of C. simplex .</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4931309F39C9DC3EBC5C00AC1FD6D815	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Benayahu, Yehuda;Ofwegen, Leen P. van;McFadden, Catherine S.	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
