Isaurus Gray, 1828

Low, Martyn E. Y., Sinniger, Frederic & Reimer, James Davis, 2016, The order Zoantharia Rafinesque, 1815 (Cnidaria, Anthozoa: Hexacorallia): supraspecific classification and nomenclature, ZooKeys 641, pp. 1-80 : 7

Isaurus Gray, 1828

Isaura Lamouroux, in Audouin, Bourdon, de Candolle, d’Aubebard de Férussac, Deshayes, Deslongchamps, É. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, I. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, Guérin, Guillemin, de Jussieu, Kunth, Delafosse, Lamouroux, Latreille, Prévost, Richard and Bory de Saint-Vincent, 1826: 23 [nomen oblitum].

Isaurus Gray, 1828: 8 [nomen protectum]

Isaura Agassiz, 1845: 14 [unjustified emendation].

Antinedia Duchassaing de Fonbressin & Michelotti, 1866: 136.

Pales Gray, 1867: 8.

Panceria Andres, 1877: 221-226.

Polythoa (Monothoa) Andres, 1883a: 521.

Zoanthus (Monanthus) Andres, 1883a: 538, 549, 541, 543.

Isaua Volpi & Benvenuti, 2003: 72 [incorrect spelling].

Type species.

Isaurus tuberculatus Gray, 1828, by monotypy.

Gender.

Masculine.

Diagnosis.

Zooxanthellate, absence of mineral incrustations in the column/coenenchyme (excluding superficial surface attachments) brachycnemic zoantharians with recumbent (non-erect) polyps. Often have tubercules (raised bumps = endodermal invagination) on the outer surface of polyps, except in Isaurus maculatus Muirhead & Ryland, 1985, which has a smooth polyp surface.

Remarks.

Specimens examined with an orthogonally-reticulate mesogleal sphincter muscle ( Swain et al. 2015).

Ryland and Lancaster (2003) recognised only three valid species in this genus, although 22 species have been described in or assigned to this genus.