Ofwegenum, McFadden & Benayahu & Samimi-Namin, 2024

McFadden, Catherine S., Benayahu, Yehuda & Samimi-Namin, Kaveh, 2024, A new genus of soft coral (Octocorallia, Malacalcyonacea, Cladiellidae) and three new species from Indo-Pacific coral reefs, ZooKeys 1188, pp. 275-304 : 275

Ofwegenum gen. nov.

Diagnosis.

Soft corals with encrusting or capitate growth forms; small (1-2 cm diameter), stalked capitula may be joined basally to form a low mat. Polyps monomorphic, non-retractile but contractile; pinnules with or without terminal branches. Coenenchymal sclerites are spindles and rods, smooth but with low, simple tubercles and areas of thickening forming concentric, raised rings. Polyp sclerites similar, usually arranged 'en chevron’ in the polyp body, lacking a distinct collaret-and-points arrangement. Tentacles and pinnules contain numerous platelets and flattened rods (i.e., finger- biscuits, see Bayer et al. 1983) with varying features such as lateral median constrictions, side notches, or depressions at one or both ends resembling a figure-eight, arranged mostly on the aboral side of the tentacles. Some species also have tiny sclerites around the mouth. Live colonies with blue, green, or brown colouration in the coenenchyme; pinnules brown. Sclerites colourless. Zooxanthellate.

Type species.

Metalcyonium verseveldti Benayahu, 1982: 197-201.

Etymology.

The generic name Ofwegenum (gender: neuter) honours the late Dr. Leendert P. van Ofwegen (1953-2021), a close friend and an eminent octocoral taxonomist ( Hoeksema 2021), in memory of his prolific contribution to the knowledge of this group.