Cladophylliidae Morycowa & Roniewicz, 1990

Baron-Szabo, Rosemarie C., 2008, Dendrophylliina, Caryophylliina, Fungiina, Microsolenina, and Stylinina, Zootaxa 1952, pp. 1-244 : 202

Family Cladophylliidae Morycowa & Roniewicz, 1990

Diagnosis. Colonial, phaceloid. Radial elements of septal type. Trabeculae branched, arranged in series. Diameter of main trabeculae from 50 to 90 µm. Thin secondary trabeculae expressed on septal surfaces in the form of sharp granulae. Inner septal edge ornamented with auriculae. Septotheca formed by well-developed and abortive septa. Columella essential. Intratentacular budding through symmetrical division by forming septal wall.

Remarks. The authors of the family Cladophylliidae Morycowa and Roniewicz, 1990 , consider the phaceloid growth form in Cladophyllia and Apocladophyllia a pseudocolonial development. However, because the individual polyps most likely are of the same genetical composition (as a result of intratentacular budding) and because the polyps throughout their entire growth remain a colony physically (branches develop from one first polyp and stay together like branches in a tree), the more traditional interpretation of phaceloid integration of the polyps as a colonial form is followed here.