Narella, GRAY, 1870

Taylor, M. L. & Rogers, A. D., 2017, Primnoidae (Cnidaria: Octocorallia) of the SW Indian Ocean: new species, genus revisions and systematics, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 181, pp. 70-97 : 73

NARELLA GRAY, 1870

Narella Gray, 1870: 49 . – Bayer, 1956: F222, fig. 159(5). – 1961: 295 [illustrated key to genus]. – Bayer, 1981: 937 [key to genus]. – Bayer & Stefani, 1989: 455 [key to genus]. – Williams, 1992: 272. – Cairns & Bayer, 2003: 618–619; 2007: 84–86 [list of species]; 2008: 85–86 [key to Hawaiian species]; 2009: 43, figs. 14A–G [revision, list of species]. – Cairns & Baco, 2007: 392–393 [list of species]. – Cairns, 2012: 14 [key to New Zealand species].

Not Stachyodes Bargatzky, 1881 [a stromatoporoid].

Stachyodes Wright & Studer, 1889: 49 . – Versluys, 1906: 86–88. – Kinoshita, 1908: 45–47. – Kükenthal, 1912: 325–328. – 1919: 452–456 [key to genus and species]. – 1924: 308–309 [key to genus and species].

Calypterinus Wright & Studer in Studer, 1887: 49–60. – Wright & Studer, 1889: 53.

Type species: Primnoa regularis Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1860 , by monotypy.

Diagnosis (from Cairns, 2012 – changes in bold): Colonies lyrate, dichotomously branched, pinnate or unbranched (flagelliform). Polyps arranged in whorls, with polyps always facing downwards. Polyps covered by three (rarely four) pairs of abaxial body-wall scales (1 pair of basals, 1–2 pairs of medials and 1 pair of buccals), 1–3 pairs of much smaller adaxial body-wall scales, and sometimes additional scattered adaxial scales, nonetheless resulting in a partially naked adaxial face; two species also have unpaired infrabasal scales. Distal margins of body-wall scales often spinose, toothed or lobate, sometimes extending as a protective buccal cowl. Opercular scales usually prominently keeled. Coenenchymal scales arranged in one or two layers, often quite thick and often ridged. Flattened, curved tentacular platelets often present.