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Sansibia flava (May, 1898) Figures 1���4, 5A���B Clavularia flava May 1898: 8; May 1899: 43���44, Plate I, Fig. 3. ? Clavularia flava Thomson & Henderson 1906: 402, Plate XXX, Fig. 4; Cohn 1908: 243; Hickson 1931: 175 (listed only). ? Anthelia flava Molander 1921: 3 (listed only); Thomson & Mackinnon 1910: 171; Roxas 1933: 63; Tixier-Durivault 1966: 348���349, Fig. 317. Anthelia flava Benayahu 1993: 14���15, Fig. 7. Material examined. Holotype: Sansibar. ZMH C 2570, three fragments, Kokotoni, coll. Stuhlmann. Additional material. Kenya. SMNHTAU_ Co _32573, Kitungamwe, on Tanzanian border, 20 m, 5 February 2003, coll. Y. Benayahu; SMNHTAU_ Co _36076, Shelly Beach, Mtwapa Creek, Likoni, 9 m, 8 February 2003, coll. Y Benayahu; Madagascar. SMNHTAU_ Co _36001, Le Banc du Castor (12.851833�� S, 48.426050�� E), 22���24 m, 28 November 2012, coll. Y. Benayahu; SMNHTAU_ Co _36003, same details; SMNHTAU_ Co _36004, same details; SMNHTAU_ Co _36006, Le Banc du Castor, same details, 14���16 m, 28 November 2012, coll. Y. Benayahu; SMNHTAU_ Co _ 36007, same details; SMNHTAU_ Co _36073, 4 Fr��re (12.994250�� S, 48.487467�� E), 4���15 m, 1 December 2012, coll. Y. Benayahu; Zanzibar. BMNH 1912.2.25.5; Zanzibar shore, coll. J. A. Thomson; 1933.3.13.194, same details; BMNH, 1933.3.13.195, same details. Diagnosis. The holotype, ZMH C 2570, consists of three fragments, probably of the same colony, each with a basal spreading membrane from which polyps emerge. One of the fragments (Fig. 2A) measures 20 x 10 mm and was closely examined. Its soft spreading membrane is approximately 1 mm thick and the polyps are flaccid. The polyp body is 6���10 mm long, depending on the degree of contraction, and the tentacles are 4���5 mm long. The pinnules are arranged in 3���4 rows, with up to 25 pinnules in the outermost row. They are short and pointed, approximately 1 mm long and 0.5 mm wide, with almost no space between adjacent ones. The sclerites are highly abundant throughout the holotype. They are ellipsoid platelets mostly with a smooth margin, measuring 0.008 ���0.013 x 0.013 ���0.018 mm in diameter, and under SEM they are mostly fractured (Fig. 3A). The sclerites are composed of calcite rods, uniform in diameter of ca. 0.001 mm; the tips of the rods are more or less perpendicular to the surface of the sclerite, giving it a granular appearance (Fig. 3B). Color. The ethanol���preserved holotype colonies are light cream. Variation. The morphological features of the sequenced SMNHTAU colonies (see additional material above) resemble the holotype, except in size. They similarly feature a thin spreading membrane attached to a hard calcareous substrate or sand grains. The polyps can be up to 20 mm long (e. g. Fig. 2B, C: SMNHTAU_Co_36007) with their pinnules arranged in 2���4 rows with a variable number of pinnules on the outermost one (14���25). In all examined colonies the polyps and all the pinnules are expanded. The sclerites of SMNHTAU_Co_36007 are slightly larger compared to those of the holotype, up to 0.016 x 0.021 mm in diameter (Fig. 4A). Their smooth margin and granular surface microstructure (Fig. 4B) agree with the holotype. Our morphological examination of material from the BMNH (see additional material above), originally labeled as A. flava, confirms it to be S. flava (data not shown). Color. The ethanol-preserved samples are cream or light brown. Remarks. The current study is the first to re-describe the holotype of S. flava since its establishment by May (1898). The original description of the holotype material by May corresponds well to the current findings. The current SEM images of the holotype sclerites are the first to reveal their surface microstructure (Fig. 3), which is also considered to be diagnostic for several other xeniid genera (see Discussion below). It should be noted that the correct authority year of the species should be 1898 and not 1899, as erroneously appears in several publications (Thomson & Mackinnon 1910, Roxas 1933, Tixier-Durivualt 1966, Benayahu 1993, Alderslade 2000). Indeed, both of May���s publications (of 1898 and 1899) provide a similar taxonomic description of C. flava, but the former unquestionably should be prioritized. In addition, Hickson (1931) incorrectly referred to 1900 as the authority year of the species. The other material examined in the current study exhibits some morphological variation with respect to the number of rows of pinnules and the number of pinnules in the outermost row. These findings further demonstrate the intraspecific variation of these characters, which are commonly used in the taxonomic literature for xeniid species delineation (e.g. Benayahu et al. 2021). It should be noted that the morphological features of SMNHTAU_Co_ 27901 collected from Sodwana Bay (South Africa) and identified as A. flava (see Benayahu 1993, Alderslade 2000) agree with the holotype of S. flava, and therefore its identification has been changed accordingly. All of the sequenced samples (see other SMNHTAU material above) have been assigned to MOTU23 (McFadden et al. 2019), thus indicating that the geographic distribution of S. flava includes the western Indian Ocean coral reefs (Fig. 1). It is still questionable whether its distribution includes the Pacific Ocean, as suggested in several past studies based only on morphological identification (e. g. Taiwan: Benayahu et al. 2004, Hong Kong: Benayahu & Fabricius 2010 and Singapore: Benayahu & Chou 2010). Unfortunately, the latter samples are not appropriate for genetic analysis and, therefore, a conclusive taxonomic assignment of these samples still awaits future studies. Living features. The encrusting live colonies feature a basal spreading membrane attached to the reef substrate, an expanded, relatively long, almost white, polyp body (Fig. 5A), and dark brown tentacles (Fig. 5A, B). The latter coloration is provided by the presence of numerous symbiotic algal cells. Distribution. Zanzibar, Tanzania, Kenya, Madagascar, South Africa (Fig. 1)., Published as part of Benayahu, Yehuda, Ekins, Merrick, Van Ofwegen, Leen P., Samimi-Namin, Kaveh & Mcfadden, Catherine S., 2022, On some encrusting Xeniidae (Octocorallia): Re-examination of the type material of Sansibia flava (May, 1898) and a description of new taxa, pp. 421-444 in Zootaxa 5093 (4) on pages 424-428, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5093.4.3, http://zenodo.org/record/5912731, {"references":["May, W. (1898) Osafrikanischen Alcyoneen des Hamburger Museum. Mitteilungen aus dem Naturhistorischen Museum, 15, 1 - 38.","May, W. (1899) Beitrage zur Systematik und Chorologie der Alcyonaceen. Jenaische Zeitschrift fur Naturwissenschaft, 33 (26), 1 - 180.","Thomson, J. A. & Henderson, W. D. (1906) The marine fauna of Zanzibar and British East Africa, from collections made by Cyril Crossland in the years 1901 and 1902. Alcyonaria. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1, 393 - 443. https: // doi. org / 10.1111 / j. 1469 - 7998.1906. tb 08441. x","Cohn, M. (1908) Alcyonacea von Madagaskar und Ostafrika. Reise in Ostafrika in den Jahren 1903 - 1905 von Dr. A. Voeltzkow mit Mitteln der Hermann und Elise geb. Heckmann Wentzel-Stiftung: Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse, 2 (3), 207 - 244.","Hickson, S. J. (1931) The Alcyonarian family Xeniidae, with a revision of the genera and species. Scientific Reports Great Barrier Reef Expedition, 4, 137 - 179.","Molander, A. R. (1921) Alcyonarien von Madagascar. Arkiv for Zoologi, 114, 1 - 13. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. part. 20150","Thomson, J. A. & Mackinnon, D. L. (1910) Alcyonarians collected on the Percy Sladon Trust Expedition by Mr. J. Stanley Gardiner. Part II. The Stolonifera, Alcyonacea, Pseudaxonia and Stelechotokea. Transactions of the Linnean Society of London, Zoology, Series 2, 13 (8), 165 - 211. https: // doi. org / 10.1111 / j. 1096 - 3642.1910. tb 00515. x","Roxas, H. A. (1933) Philippine Alcyonaria. The families Cornulariidae and Xeniidae. The Philippine Journal of Science, 50, 49 - 110.","Tixier-Durivault, A. (1966) Octocoralliares. Fauna de Madagascar, 21, 1 - 456.","Benayahu, Y. (1993) Corals of the South-West Indian Ocean I. Alcyonacea from Sodwana Bay, South Africa. Oceanography Research Institute Investigational Reports, 67, 1 - 15.","Alderslade, P. (2000) Four new genera of soft corals (Coelenterata: Octocorallia), with notes on the classification of some established taxa. Zoologische Mededelingen Leiden, 74, 237 - 249.","McFadden, C. S., Gonzalez, A., Imada, R., Shi, S. S., Hong, P., Ekins, M. & Benayahu, Y. (2019) Molecular operational taxonomic units reveal restricted geographic ranges and regional endemism in the Indo-Pacific octocoral family Xeniidae. Journal of Biogeography, 46, 992 - 1006. https: // doi. org / 10.1111 / jbi. 13543","Benayahu, Y., Jeng, M. - S., Perkol-Finkel, S. & Dai, C. - F. (2004) Soft corals (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea) from Southern Taiwan. II. Species diversity and distributional patterns. Z oological Studies, 43, 548 - 560. https: // doi. org / 10.1016 / S 0196 - 0644 (04) 00223 - 9","Benayahu, Y. & Fabricius, K. (2010) On some Octocorallia (Alcyonacea) from Hong Kong, with a description of Paraminabea rubeusa spec. nov. Pacific Science, 64, 285 - 296. https: // doi. org / 10.2984 / 64.2.285","Benayahu, Y. & Chou, L. M. (2010) On some Octocorallia (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Alcyonacea) from Singapore, with a description of a new Cladiella s pecies. The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, 58, 1 - 13."]}

Quattuoria pallida Benayahu & McFadden gen. nov. sp. nov. Figures 1, 16–17 http://zoobank/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 434D2C4A-B44C-4B17-9B7A-60778ECEB808 Material examined. Madagascar. Holotype. SMNHTAU_ Co _36071 (MAD95), 4 Frére (12.994250° S, 48.487467° E), 4–15 m, 1 December 2012, coll. Y. Benayahu. Description. The holotype is an encrusting colony featuring a thin, irregular spreading membrane ( The sclerites are spheroid or ellipsoid platelets (Fig. 17A) measuring 0.012 –0.018 x 0.015 –0.020 mm in diameter, abundant throughout the colony. A few sclerites feature surface irregularity. They are composed of calcite rods whose tips provide a granular appearance to the sclerite surface (Fig. 17B). The sclerites often tend to fracture during the dehydration necessary for SEM. Color. The ethanol-preserved holotype is light cream, almost white. Etymology. The species name is derived from the Latin pallida, referring to the pale color of the holotype. Remarks. Q. pallida is characterized by its pinnule arrangement which lacks the organization in rows that is typical of other xeniid taxa. The ethanol-preserved holotype was sequenced and subsequently assigned to MOTU71. Unfortunately, no image of a live colony is available. Distribution. Madagascar (Fig. 1).

Latissimia opalia Ekins, Benayahu & McFadden, sp. nov. Figures 1, 8���10 http://zoobank/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 7CA36992-98F8-478D-BE5A-A2318722193D Material. Australia. Holotype: QM G339447, Shelly Beach, Caloundra, Queensland (26.79972�� S, 153.150278�� E), Intertidal pools of beach rock, 0.1���1 m, 23 February 2021, coll. M. Ekins; Paratypes: QM G339756 - QM G339762 and QM G339448 - QM G339450, all same details; QM G333523, same location as the holotype, 4 June 2013, coll. M. Ekins & J. Johnson; QM G317135, same location as the holotype, 30 June 2000, coll. S. Cook, & D. Edson; QM G317204, Dunwich, North Stradbroke Island, Queensland, Australia (27.494167�� S, 153.400000�� E), 0.1���1 m, 23 September 2000, coll. J. Hooper, S. Cook, J. Kennedy, S. List-Armitage, D. Edson and G. W��rheide. Description. The holotype measures 30 x 23 mm and is 8 mm in height (Fig. 8A), featuring polyps attached to an encrusting 3 mm thick spreading membrane. The polyps are up to 11 mm in length with the majority being around this size, and a few contracted ones of only 2 mm in length. The lower part of the polyps below the tentacles is 1���1.5 mm in width. The expanded tentacles are approximately 1.5 mm long with two rows of 24���30 pinnules on either side of the tentacle. The sclerites of the holotype are ellipsoid platelets, a few with a waist-like median narrowing, either on one or both sides of the sclerite (Fig. 9A). Under an incident light microscope they are opalescent blue and abundant throughout the colony, measuring 0.008 ���0.013 x 0.016 ���0.019 mm in diameter. The sclerites are composed of calcite rods whose tips provide a uniform granular appearance to the sclerite surface (Fig. 9B). Some sclerites tend to fracture during the dehydration process necessary for SEM. Color. The ethanol-preserved holotype is cream/light orange. Etymology. The species name, opalia, is derived from the Latin opalus, referring to the opal-blue color of the live colonies. Variation. The morphological features of the paratype colonies resemble the holotype, except in size (Fig. 8 B���H). Remarks. L. opalia is characterized by large non-retractile blue polyps when alive (Fig. 10) and a relatively thick spreading membrane providing a fleshy appearance. Another xeniid, Sympodium caeruleum Ehrenberg, 1834, similarly has encrusting colonies with a bluish tinge when alive (Benayahu et al. 2021). However, it differs from L. opalia by having a much thinner and more delicate spreading membrane and fully retractile polyps. All of the sequenced samples of L. opalia were assigned to MOTU72, thus indicating that the geographic distribution of L. opalia includes the Queensland (eastern Australia) intertidal rock platforms and mudflats (Fig. 1). Living features. The live colonies are blue/brown in color (Fig. 10 A���B). Higher magnification of the polyps and tentacles clearly demonstrates the characteristic blue coloration of the sclerites (Fig. 10 C���F). At low tide the polyps in direct sunlight contract such that their sclerites form an almost complete barrier blocking out the sunlight and giving the colonies their blue color, with the creamy-brown color of the underlying tissue apparent between the sclerites. Distribution. South-eastern Queensland and northern New South Wales, Australia (Fig. 1)., Published as part of Benayahu, Yehuda, Ekins, Merrick, Van Ofwegen, Leen P., Samimi-Namin, Kaveh & Mcfadden, Catherine S., 2022, On some encrusting Xeniidae (Octocorallia): Re-examination of the type material of Sansibia flava (May, 1898) and a description of new taxa, pp. 421-444 in Zootaxa 5093 (4) on pages 430-433, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5093.4.3, http://zenodo.org/record/5912731

Sansibia Alderslade, 2000 Diagnosis. Xeniidae with non-retractile polyps arising directly from a spreading membrane or ribbon-like stolons. Polyps monomorphic. Sclerites are abundant and present as ellipsoid platelets, some with a waist-like median narrowing. The sclerites reveal a dendritic surface microstructure. Colonies harbor symbiotic unicellular algae. Type species: Sansibia flava (May, 1898)., Published as part of Benayahu, Yehuda, Ekins, Merrick, Van Ofwegen, Leen P., Samimi-Namin, Kaveh & Mcfadden, Catherine S., 2022, On some encrusting Xeniidae (Octocorallia): Re-examination of the type material of Sansibia flava (May, 1898) and a description of new taxa, pp. 421-444 in Zootaxa 5093 (4) on page 424, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5093.4.3, http://zenodo.org/record/5912731, {"references":["Alderslade, P. (2000) Four new genera of soft corals (Coelenterata: Octocorallia), with notes on the classification of some established taxa. Zoologische Mededelingen Leiden, 74, 237 - 249.","May, W. (1898) Osafrikanischen Alcyoneen des Hamburger Museum. Mitteilungen aus dem Naturhistorischen Museum, 15, 1 - 38."]}

Quattuoria Benayahu & McFadden, gen. nov. http://zoobank/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 122B9756-61C9-495E-A878-15F242F816B5 Diagnosis. Xeniidae with polyps arising directly from a spreading basal membrane. Polyps monomorphic and non-retractile. The numerous pinnules are scattered randomly on the oral surface of the tentacles and no distinct pinnule-rows can be recognized. Sclerites are ellipsoid platelets with a dendritic surface microstructure, abundant in the colony. Zooxanthellate. Type species: Quattuoria pallida sp. nov. by original designation and monotypy. Etymology. The generic name Quattuoria (Gender: feminine) is derived from the Latin quattuor, referring to four. Here, it denotes the type locality of this genus, Les Quatre Frères (The Four Brothers), Madagascar.

Sansibia claereboudti Samimi-Namin, Benayahu & McFadden sp. nov. Figures 1, 5C���D, 6, 7 http://zoobank/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: E8115341-B5FE-40A7-A1D8-3B7D7B1DB628 Material. Oman, Holotype: RMNH Coel. 42915, Oman Sea, Bandar Al-Khiran (23.501662�� N, 58.763671�� E), 8��� 10 m, 2013, coll. K. Samimi-Namin & M. Claereboudt; Paratypes: RMNH Coel. 42916, same details; SMNHTAU_ Co _38229, same details. Description. The holotype has a stoloniferous growth form and encrusts a limestone fragment (Fig. 5 C���D, 6A). Polyps are monomorphic, and their distribution varies from well-spaced to dense clumps. They arise from anastomosing stolons that criss-cross the substrate Fig. (6 A���B). The polyps are flabby and lie horizontally on the colony surface. The polyp body is up to 2 mm long and the tentacles are> 1 mm long. There is a single row of 5���7 plump pinnules along each side of a tentacle. The smaller polyps may have fewer pinnules or even none, probably representing young ones. The stolons are rather thin and delicate, up to 1 mm thick. The sclerites of the holotype are ellipsoid platelets, highly abundant throughout the colony, measuring 0.010 ��� 0.016 x 0.014 ���0.020 mm (Fig. 7A). Some sclerites tend to fracture due to the SEM preparation. They are composed of calcite rods whose tips provide a granular appearance to the sclerite surface (Fig. 7B). Color. The ethanol-preserved samples are cream or light brown. Etymology The species is named after Michel Claereboudt, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman, for his contributions to knowledge of the marine biodiversity of the Middle East. Variation. The morphological features of the paratype colonies (Fig. 6C) resemble the holotype, except in size. Remarks. S. claereboudti sp. nov. is the second confirmed species of this genus. Although Alderslade (2000) included Anthelia boquetei Roxas, 1933, Anthelia formosana Utinomi, 1950, and ? Anthelia lineata Stimpson, 1855 in the genus Sansibia, all three of those species need re-examination prior to a concrete decision on their taxonomic status. The morphology of S. claereboudti sp. nov. differs markedly from that of S. flava whose polyps are not contractile, while those of S. claereboudti sp. nov. can completely contract. S. flava has a spreading membrane, while S. claereboudti sp. nov. has stolons growing over the reef substrate. S. claereboudti sp. nov. features tentacles with a single row of 5���7 pinnules compared to S. flava which has 3���4 rows and up to 25 pinnules in the outermost row. The sclerites of both species are ellipsoid platelets, highly abundant throughout the colony, and those of S. claereboudti sp. nov. are a bit smaller in diameter compared to S. flava (0.008 ���0.013 x 0.013 ���0.018 and 0.010 ���0.016 x 0.014 ��� 0.020 mm, respectively). S. flava has sclerites with a rather smooth and roundish margin except for some cracks, while S. claereboudti sp. nov. has some sclerites with a waist. Despite these morphological differences between the two congeners, the molecular data suggest a close genetic relationship between S. flava and S. claereboudti sp. nov. Based on the description of the latter two species an updated diagnosis of Sansibia is presented. So far, these two species exhibit restricted, non-overlapping geographic ranges: Oman Sea vs. SW Indian Ocean. Living features. The live colonies are iridescent blue-purple or green due to the light-refraction properties of the sclerites (Fig. 5C, D). In situ photographs show the polyps in various states, from moderately expanded to completely contracted. Expanded polyps are 2���6 mm in width when alive and the tentacles are up to 4 mm long and 2 mm wide. Polyps contract when stimulated physically. Distribution. Oman Sea, Arabian Sea (Fig. 1)., Published as part of Benayahu, Yehuda, Ekins, Merrick, Van Ofwegen, Leen P., Samimi-Namin, Kaveh & Mcfadden, Catherine S., 2022, On some encrusting Xeniidae (Octocorallia): Re-examination of the type material of Sansibia flava (May, 1898) and a description of new taxa, pp. 421-444 in Zootaxa 5093 (4) on pages 428-429, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5093.4.3, http://zenodo.org/record/5912731, {"references":["Alderslade, P. (2000) Four new genera of soft corals (Coelenterata: Octocorallia), with notes on the classification of some established taxa. Zoologische Mededelingen Leiden, 74, 237 - 249.","Roxas, H. A. (1933) Philippine Alcyonaria. The families Cornulariidae and Xeniidae. The Philippine Journal of Science, 50, 49 - 110.","Stimpson, W. (1855) Descriptions of some of the new marine invertebrata from the Chinese and Japanese Seas. In: Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences. Vol. 7. Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, pp. 375 - 384. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 51444"]}

Latissimia ningalooensis Ekins, Benayahu & McFadden, sp. nov. Figures 1, 11���14 http://zoobank/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 33E744E2-542B-4CF6-85D1-DD020E4FD10B Material. Australia. Holotype: QM G330711, Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia, Australia (22.77661�� S, 113.696432�� E), patch reef, lagoon, 5���7 m, 20 May 2010, coll. M. Ekins & M. Bryce, NR10���030; Paratypes: QM G339754, QM G339755 and WAM Z29359 same details as QM G330711; QM G330077, Ningaloo Reef, inside Norwegian Bommies, Western Australia, Australia (22.62157�� S, 113.6424�� E), patch reef, lagoon, 5���6 m, 19 May 2010, coll. M. Ekins & M. Bryce, NR09���035; QM G334151, Long Reef, Kimberley, Western Australia, Australia (13.83015�� S, 125.83257�� E), mid-littoral reef terrace, 0���1 m, 21 October 2010, coll. M. Ekins & M. Bryce, K-48; WAM Z59816 same details as QM G334151; QM G334150, Long Reef, Kimberley, Western Australia, Australia (13.9018�� S, 125.79108�� E), sub-littoral reef platform, 2���5 m, 22 October 2010, coll. M. Ekins & M. Bryce, K���49; WAM Z59815 same details as QM G334150; QM G334196, Champagney Islands, Kimberley, Western Australia, Australia (15.33074�� S, 124.21692�� E), intertidal, mid-littoral reef platform, Champagney Islands, Kimberley 1 m, 15 October 2011, coll. M. Ekins & M. Bryce, K-63; WAM Z54716 same details as QM G334196; QM G330421, Montgomery Reef, Kimberley, Western Australia, Australia (15.897183�� S, 124.323967�� E), intertidal, mid-littoral reef terrace, 0���1 m, 19 October 2009, coll. M. Bryce, K-15; WAM Z54909 same details as QM G330421. Other material: Brazil. SMNHTAU_ Co _38205 Rio de Janeiro, Ilha Grande Bay (23.026�� S, 44.501�� W), September 2017, coll. J. Creed: SMNHTAU_ Co _38206 same details. Description. The holotype growing on a dead stony coral measures 11 x 9 mm (Fig. 11A), with a 1 mm thick spreading membrane with polyps. The polyps are usually 3.5 mm in height, and their body is 0.9 mm in width. The majority of the polyps are fully expanded, with only a small number partly contracted. They have two rows of 18���22 pinnules on either side of the tentacle. The relatively long and expanded polyps give the colonies a fleshy appearance. The sclerites of the holotype are ellipsoid platelets, some with a median narrowing (Fig. 12A). Under a light microscope they are opalescent and abundant throughout the colony, measuring 0.010 ���0.017 x 0.013 ���0.023 mm in diameter. The sclerites are composed of calcite rods whose tips provide a granular microstructure to their surface, often forming a labyrinthic appearance and arranged in dense patches with some space in between (Fig. 12B). The sclerites often tend to fracture during the dehydration process necessary for SEM. Color. The ethanol-preserved holotype has a pale brown membrane and polyp bodies and cream tentacles. Etymology. The species name, ningalooensis, refers to Ningaloo, the type locality of the species. Variation. The morphological features of the paratype colonies resemble the holotype, except in size (Fig. 11 B���C). Remarks. The paratypes of L. ningalooensis sp. nov. differ from the holotype by their size. This species is distinguished from L. opalia sp. nov. by its smaller polyps and sclerites, whose granular surface microstructure features a labyrinthic appearance. In addition, the species has fewer pinnules on the tentacles compared to its congener (18���22 vs. 24���30 pinnules). The ethanol-preserved holotype and paratypes of L. ningalooensis were sequenced and subsequently assigned to MOTU8 (McFadden et al. 2019), unlike L. opalia which was assigned to MOTU72. The mean genetic distance (uncorrected p) between the two species was 0.2% at mtMutS and COI, and 1.1% at 28S rDNA. The examined colonies of the xeniid that is invasive in Brazil (SMNHTAU_Co_38205 and SMNHTAU_Co_ 38206) are encrusting, featuring a spreading membrane and non-retractile polyps (Fig. 13). The polyps feature two rows of 35���50 pinnules on either side of the tentacle, a higher number compared to the two rows of only 18���22 pinnules in the holotype. Their sclerites are ellipsoids, measuring 0.011 ���0.013 x 0.016 ���0.018 mm, and some have a median narrow waist (Fig. 14A). The sclerites are composed of calcite rods whose tips provide a granular appearance to the sclerite surface (Fig. 14B). The sclerites often tend to fracture during the dehydration necessary for SEM purposes. These two samples were sequenced and subsequently assigned to MOTU8, and therefore it is concluded that this invasive xeniid should be assigned to L. ningalooensis sp. nov. The morphological differences in pinnule number between the Brazilian and the West Australian material (see above) do not justify establishing a separate species and further indicate the problematic nature of pinnule count for species delineation among xeniid soft corals. In addition, the length of the polyp body varies greatly among the colonies of L. ningalooensis sp. nov. found in Brazil, from 3.5 mm to 3.75 cm (Mantellato et al. 2018), perhaps as a result of differing degrees of contraction. Living features. The live colonies of L. ningalooensis from western Australia are light brown with a blue tinge that varies in strength (Figs. 15A, B). The colonies invasive to Brazil are encrusting (Figs. 15C, D) and exhibit a similar coloration, but their symbiotic algae may significantly mask the blue tinge. The colonies can extensively cover the hard substrate while displaying a mixed blue-brown coloration. Distribution. North-western Australia, Northern Territory (Darwin), Brazil (introduced) (Fig. 1)., Published as part of Benayahu, Yehuda, Ekins, Merrick, Van Ofwegen, Leen P., Samimi-Namin, Kaveh & Mcfadden, Catherine S., 2022, On some encrusting Xeniidae (Octocorallia): Re-examination of the type material of Sansibia flava (May, 1898) and a description of new taxa, pp. 421-444 in Zootaxa 5093 (4) on pages 433-436, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5093.4.3, http://zenodo.org/record/5912731, {"references":["McFadden, C. S., Gonzalez, A., Imada, R., Shi, S. S., Hong, P., Ekins, M. & Benayahu, Y. (2019) Molecular operational taxonomic units reveal restricted geographic ranges and regional endemism in the Indo-Pacific octocoral family Xeniidae. Journal of Biogeography, 46, 992 - 1006. https: // doi. org / 10.1111 / jbi. 13543"]}

Sympodium subtilis sp. n. Figs. 12, 13, 14A Material. Japan. Syntypes: SMNHTAU_ Co _38204, Nagasaki, Danjo Islands, south of Arasesaki, Ojima, NW side (32.051168°N, 128.391857°E), 23 September 2018, 10– 20 m, coll. C. McFadden; Paratypes: SMNHTAU_ Co _38092 Nagasaki, Danjo Islands, Ojima, SE side (32.038886°N, 128.387278°E), 22 September 2018, 10– 20 m, coll. C. McFadden (molecular sample only); SMNHTAU_Co_38103 Nagasaki, Danjo Islands, rocks west of Yorijima (32.024824°N, 128.364289°E), 23 September 2018, 10– 20 m, coll. C. McFadden (molecular sample only); SMNHTAU_ Co _38104, same details. Description. The syntypes comprise several irregular encrusting colonies with a delicate thin spreading membrane ( The sclerites of the syntypes are ellipsoid platelets, abundant throughout the colony and measuring 0.010 –0.012 x 0.013 –0.015 mm in diameter (Fig.13A). They are composed of densely packed calcite rods whose tips provide a uniform granular appearance to the sclerite surface (Fig. 13B). Color. The ethanol-preserved syntypes are light gray, almost white. Etymology. The species’ name, subtilis from the Latin meaning delicate, refers to the delicate encrusting membrane of the species. Variation. The paratype SMNHTAU_Co_38104 is a small colony measuring only a few mm in size, but otherwise resembles the holotype. Living features. The live colonies feature polyps arranged in groups (Fig. 14A). Distribution. Japan. Remarks. The colonies are characterized by a remarkably thin and delicate spreading membrane which is suggested to be diagnostic for this species. The ethanol-preserved syntypes and paratypes were sequenced and subsequently assigned to MOTU68.

Sympodium Ehrenberg, 1834 Type species Sympodium caeruleum Ehrenberg,1834: 285 Klunzinger 1877: 42; May 1898: 46���51; Wright & Studer 1889: 270���271; Cohn 1908: 241���242; K��kenthal 1916: 453; Hickson 1931: 174���175; Roxas 1933: 106���107; Macfadyen 1936: 23; Gohar 1940: 106���107; Tixier-Durivault 1966: 371; Reinicke 1997: 22���23. Diagnosis. Colonies encrusting. The encrusting part is a membrane of variable thickness. It can be either mat-like or with ribbon-like extensions; when thicker, it features irregularly shaped low mounds. Polyps monomorphic, commonly retractile, mostly found over the entire surface of the colony, but some parts of the encrusting membrane have very few polyps. Commonly, the polyps arise individually from the membrane or the mounds and can be either spaced or closely set. In the latter case, they can appear as clusters comprising polyps that bud off at different levels to form small branched groups. The sclerites are ellipsoid platelets, abundant throughout the colony. They reach up to ca. 0.03 mm maximal diameter, with each composed of densely packed calcite rods. The tips of the rods are distinct on the surface of the sclerites and commonly provide a granular microstructure. Zooxanthellate., Published as part of Benayahu, Yehuda, Ekins, Merrick & Mcfadden, Catherine S., 2021, Overview of the genus Sympodium Ehrenberg, 1834 (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea, Xeniidae), with the description of new species, revealing regional endemism, pp. 324-350 in Zootaxa 5072 (4) on page 328, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5072.4.2, http://zenodo.org/record/5748862, {"references":["Ehrenberg, C. G. (1834) Beitrage zur physiologischen Kenntniss der Corallenthiere im allgemeinen, und besonders des rothen Meeres, nebst einem Versuche zur physiologischen Systematik derselben. Abhandlungen der Koniglichen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin, 1, 225 - 380. [1832]","May, W. (1898) Osafrikanischen Alcyoneen des Hamburger Museum. Mitteilungen aus dem Naturhistorischen Museum, 15, 1 - 38.","Wright, E. P. & Studer, T. (1889) In: Report on the Scientific Results of the Voyage of H. M. S. Challenger during the years 1873 - 76, Zoology, 31 (Part 64), 1 - 314.","Cohn, M. (1908) Alcyonacea von Madagaskar und Ostafrika. Reise in Ostafrika in den Jahren 1903 - 1905 von Dr. A. Voeltzkow mit Mitteln der Hermann und Elise geb. Heckmann Wentzel-Stiftung. Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse, 2 (3), 207 - 244.","Kukenthal, W. (1916) Die Gorgonarien Westindiens. Kap. 1, Die Scleraxonier; 2, Uber den Venusfacher; 3, die Gattung Xiphigorgia Haime & Milne-Edwards. Zoologische Jahrbucher, Supplement 11 (4), 443 - 450.","Hickson, S. J. (1931) The Alcyonarian family Xeniidae, with a revision of the genera and species. Scientific Reports Great Barrier Reef Expedition, 4, 137 - 179.","Roxas, H. A. (1933) Philippine Alcyonaria the families Cornulariidae and Xeniidae. The Philippine Journal of Science, 50, 49 - 110.","Macfadyen, L. M. I. (1936) Alcyonaria (Stolonifera, Alcyonacea, Telestacea and Gorgonacea). Great Barrier Reef Expedition 1928 - 1929, Scientific Reports, 5, 19 - 72.","Gohar, H. A. F. (1940) Studies on the Xeniidae of the Red Sea \" Their Ecology, Physiology, Taxonomy and Phylogeny \". Publication of the Marine Biological Station Ghardaqa (Red Sea), 2, 25 - 118.","Tixier-Durivault, A. (1966) Octocoralliares. Fauna de Madagascar, 21, 1 - 456.","Reinicke, G. B. (1997) Xeniidae (Coelenterata: Octocorallia) of the Red Sea with descriptions of six new species of Xenia. Fauna of Saudi Arabia, 16, 5 - 62."]}

Sympodium vegrandis sp. n. Figs. 14B–C, 15, 16 Material. Taiwan. Holotype: SMNHTAU_ Co _35751, Green Island, IronArtificial Reef (22°38’33”N, 121°28’31”E), 20–26 m, 9 September 2012, coll. Y. Benayahu; Paratype: SMNHTAU_ Co _37888, Green Island, Lighthouse End (22°40’32.04”N, 121°27’44.58”E), 20–26 m, October 2019, coll. Y. Benayahu. Description. The syntypes comprise 25–30 small encrusting colonies attached to a fluffy sponge fragment (Fig. 15A). Each features up to 15 polyps and measures approximately 2 x 4 mm. There are also a few individual polyps on the sponge surface (Fig. 15 B). Some colonies reveal a round outline (Fig. 15B) while in others their thin spreading membrane ( The sclerites of the syntypes are ellipsoid platelets, measuring 0.009 –0.010 x 0.012 –0.015 mm in diameter (Fig. 16A). They are composed of calcite rods whose tips provide a uniform granular appearance to the sclerite surface (Fig. 16B). Color. The ethanol-preserved syntypes are light cream. Etymology. The species’ name, vegrandis in Latin, meaning small, diminutive, refers to the size of the colonies. Variation. The paratype resembles the syntypes. Remarks. The colonies are characterized by their minute size and sclerites whose diameter is the smallest recorded to date among the congeners. The syntypes uniquely exhibit single (not clustered) polyps that are probably juvenile recruits. The ethanol-preserved syntypes and paratype were sequenced and subsequently assigned to MOTU54 (McFadden et al. 2019). Living features. The aggregated live colonies exhibit a distinct bluish/green color (Fig. 14 B, C) Distribution. Taiwan (Green Island).

Sympodium hexagonotus sp. n. Figs. 3F, 10, 11. Material. Australia. Holotype : QM G330076, Ningaloo Reef, inside Norwegian Bommies, Western Australia, Australia (22��37���17.6���S, 113��38���32.6���E), Lagoon (Patch Reef), 5���6 m, 19 May 2009, coll. M. Ekins & M. Bryce; Paratypes: QM G339750, four fragments same details as the holotype. WAM Z29359, same details as the holotype. Description. The holotype measures 25 x 33 mm (Fig. 10A), and features mounds covered with densely packed polyps. The spreading membrane is about 1 mm thick and the mounds are about 10 mm high. Only a few polyps are significantly expanded while the majority are in various states of retraction. The expanded polyps are up to 1.5 mm long and their tentacles are approximately 0.5 mm long with a single row of 7���8 pinnules on either side of the tentacle. The sclerites of the holotype are ellipsoid platelets, mostly hexagonal in shape. They are opalescent and abundant throughout the colony, measuring 0.010 ���0.028 x 0.008 ���0.023 mm in diameter (Fig. 11A). The sclerites are composed of calcite rods whose tips provide a uniform granular appearance to the sclerite surface. They are arranged in dense patches with some space in between (Fig. 11B). Color. The ethanol-preserved holotype is cream. Etymology. The species��� name, hexagonotus in Greek, means a six-sided polygon, referring to the unique shape of the sclerites. Remarks. The paratypes resemble the holotype except for their size. The morphology of the colonies is characterized by both mounds and the hexagonal sclerites whose diameter is the largest recorded to date among the congeners (0.028 mm). The ethanol-preserved holotype (QM G330076) was sequenced and subsequently assigned to MOTU44 (McFadden et al. 2019). Living features. The live colonies feature distinct mounds and are bluish/cream in color (Fig. 3F) Distribution. Western Australia, Published as part of Benayahu, Yehuda, Ekins, Merrick & Mcfadden, Catherine S., 2021, Overview of the genus Sympodium Ehrenberg, 1834 (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea, Xeniidae), with the description of new species, revealing regional endemism, pp. 324-350 in Zootaxa 5072 (4) on page 338, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5072.4.2, http://zenodo.org/record/5748862, {"references":["McFadden, C. S., Gonzalez, A., Imada, R., Shi, S. S., Hong, P., Ekins, M. & Benayahu, Y. (2019) Molecular operational taxonomic units reveal restricted geographic ranges and regional endemism in the Indo-Pacific octocoral family Xeniidae. Journal of Biogeography, 46, 992 - 1006. https: // doi. org / 10.1111 / jbi. 13543"]}