Holaxonia

Devictor, Susan T. & Morton, Steve L., 2010, Identification guide to the shallow water (0 - 200 m) octocorals of the South Atlantic Bight 2599, Zootaxa 2599 (1), pp. 1-62 : 20

Suborder Holaxonia

Octocorals with unspiculated, horny axis containing a soft, cross-chambered central core.

When using sclerites alone, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish between the two families of Holaxonia represented in the SAB. The Plexauridae have a much more diverse assemblage of sclerite morphology as a whole than the Gorgoniidae , but there are some species (e.g. Thesea nivea ) that contain spindles that initially resemble those in the Gorgoniidae . Spindle size and degree of loculation within the axis must also be considered while attempting to place holaxonian specimens in the correct family.