Complexum, Van Ofwegen, Leen P., Aurelle, Didier & Sartoretto, Stephane, 2014

Van Ofwegen, Leen P., Aurelle, Didier & Sartoretto, Stephane, 2014, A new genus of soft coral (Cnidaria, Octocorallia) from the Republic of Congo (Pointe-Noire Region), ZooKeys 462, pp. 1-10 : 2

Taxon classification Animalia Alcyonacea Alcyoniidae

Genus Complexum gen. n.

Type species.

Complexum pusillum sp. n., here designated.

Diagnosis.

Colonies form encrusting sheets or are lobate. Polyps monomorphic and retractile. Polyps with point spindles showing an arrangement in chevrons, a kind of collaret can be present, formed by the lowest point sclerites lying horizontally. Coenenchymal sclerites are wide spindles and ovals with simple and complex tubercles. The polyparium additionally can have clubs in the surface layer, which are derived from the spindles. When preserved, colonies are white or coloured; sclerites colourless or coloured. Azooxanthellate.

Etymology.

From the latin complexus, a complex, an aggregate of parts, referring to the complex tubercles common on the coenenchymal sclerites of this genus.

Remarks.

The following West African species hitherto placed in Alcyonium are refered to the new genus: Alcyonium caparti , Alcyonium globosum , Alcyonium gruveli , Alcyonium laxum , Alcyonium miniatum , Alcyonium monodi , Alcyonium patulum , Alcyonium pobeguini , and Alcyonium strictum ; all were described by Tixier-Durivault (1955).