Zootaxa
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The genus Antipathes is the first to have been described (Pallas 1766). It is characterized by branched, thorny, bushy or fan-shaped colonies (Opresko 1972, 1974). The branches are not pinnate and the polyps occur in a single row on smaller branches. The spines can be smooth or papillose, simple or forked, multi-lobed or knobbly at the tip. Currently, there are about 70 nominal species (Opresko 2019), 36 of which are from the Pacific and Indian Oceans, of which the type species has been lost in 13 cases. New species are still being described, which is why it is difficult to determine the exact number of species belonging to the genus Antipathes.
It forms a branched, fan-shaped and highly anastomosing colony with a brownish color. The colony found around Madagascar is 45 cm wide and 30 cm high, but there are also larger colonies.
The examined colony measures 45 cm in width and 30 cm in height, but there are also larger colonies.
The general appearance is that of a fan, but with a distinct horizontal plate-like part towards the most distal part of the coralum, extending perpendicular to the plane of the fan.
The coralum is reticulate, with branches growing almost vertically and bearing branches that are slightly curved upwards and often fused with the neighboring branches.
A third order of branches is rarely found.
The polyps are all located on the same side of the colony, and 9–12 polyps are found per cm, measuring 0.6–0.9 mm in transverse diameter and
0.06–0.95 mm apart.
The living, extended tentacles that can be seen during the day are small, thick and rounded at the tip, arranged in a single row except at the thicker branches, where they are less uniformly arranged and further apart.
Synonyms:
Antipathes (Euantipathes) flabellum Pallas, 1766 · unaccepted > superseded combination
Rhipidipathes flabellum (Pallas, 1766) · unaccepted > superseded combination
Tylopathes flabellum (Pallas, 1766) · unaccepted > superseded combination
Literature reference
Terrana, Lucas & Bo, Marzia & Opresko, Dennis & Eeckhaut, Igor. (2020).
Shallow-water black corals (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Hexacorallia: Antipatharia) from SW Madagascar.
Zootaxa. 4826. 10.11646/zootaxa.4826.1.1.
It forms a branched, fan-shaped and highly anastomosing colony with a brownish color. The colony found around Madagascar is 45 cm wide and 30 cm high, but there are also larger colonies.
The examined colony measures 45 cm in width and 30 cm in height, but there are also larger colonies.
The general appearance is that of a fan, but with a distinct horizontal plate-like part towards the most distal part of the coralum, extending perpendicular to the plane of the fan.
The coralum is reticulate, with branches growing almost vertically and bearing branches that are slightly curved upwards and often fused with the neighboring branches.
A third order of branches is rarely found.
The polyps are all located on the same side of the colony, and 9–12 polyps are found per cm, measuring 0.6–0.9 mm in transverse diameter and
0.06–0.95 mm apart.
The living, extended tentacles that can be seen during the day are small, thick and rounded at the tip, arranged in a single row except at the thicker branches, where they are less uniformly arranged and further apart.
Synonyms:
Antipathes (Euantipathes) flabellum Pallas, 1766 · unaccepted > superseded combination
Rhipidipathes flabellum (Pallas, 1766) · unaccepted > superseded combination
Tylopathes flabellum (Pallas, 1766) · unaccepted > superseded combination
Literature reference
Terrana, Lucas & Bo, Marzia & Opresko, Dennis & Eeckhaut, Igor. (2020).
Shallow-water black corals (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Hexacorallia: Antipatharia) from SW Madagascar.
Zootaxa. 4826. 10.11646/zootaxa.4826.1.1.
