Myriopathidae Opresko, 2001 a

Lima, Manuela M., Cordeiro, Ralf T. S. & Perez, Carlos D., 2019, Black Corals (Anthozoa: Antipatharia) from the Southwestern Atlantic, Zootaxa 4692 (1), pp. 1-67 : 25

Family Myriopathidae Opresko, 2001 a

Diagnosis. “Corallum monopodial or branched; branching irregular or pseudodichotomous. Stem and branches usually pinnulate to varying degrees of regularity. Primary pinnules simple or subpinnulate. Pinnular spines relatively large (maximum height of polypar spines at least two times width along the base), acute, conical, or slightly compressed and blade-like; smooth or finely papillose. Polypar spines generally larger than abpolypar spines. Spines increasing in density on larger branches and stem; becoming acicular and often bifid, trifid, or dendritic. Polyps 0.5–1.0 mm (usually 0.6–0.8 mm) in transverse diameter, with distinct interpolypar space 0.2–0.4 mm in width (in preserved material). Tentacles of fully expanded polyps relatively short and rounded at apex” ( Opresko, 2001 a).