Family Umbellulidae Lindahl, 1874

Type genus

Umbellula Cuvier, 1798 .

Diagnosis (adapted from Williams 1990, modifications in bold)

Rachis long and slender. Axis quadrangular to round in cross section. Autozooids restricted to the distal terminus, usually forming an umbellulate cluster. Siphonozooids are present on the rachis at the base of the autozooids or on bare parts of the rachis. Sclerites either present in peduncle, rachis, and terminal cluster, or totally absent. When present, sclerites are rods, spindles or needles, three-flanged round in cross-section.

Included genera

Umbellula Cuvier, 1798 .

Distribution

Cosmopolitan, from 250 m to over 6200 m deep (Williams 2011).

Remarks Since sclerites were found in the rachis of U. pomona sp. nov., we added this character to the family diagnosis.