Xeniidae

Xenia sp.

The soft corals of Xeniidae family living throughout tropical Indo-Pacific in shallow water, often on dead corals. As with all soft corals there are animal colonies consisting of many individual polyps. They have very small sclerites in contrast to the Alcyoniidae. Their growth habit is very diverse. Many species grow mushroom-shaped, others grow creeping. In many species there are in addition to the large polyps, which are responsible for nutrition and reproduction still small, barely visible, which are solely responsible for the water exchange between the body and the surrounding water. The first type is called polyps Autozooid, the second Siphonozooid.

They live in a symbiotic relationship with algae ( zooxanthellae ), which provide it with nutrients. They are therefore dependent on dark locations. Some genera, such as Xenia rely solely on these nutrients, because in them the Gastralraum is overgrown and they can no longer absorb food.

The Xeniidae can also be grown in saltwater aquariums. Especially the species whose polyps run pulsating movements, are very popular. They grow very quickly and can be large parts of the decoration overgrow.

Genera

• Asterospicularia
• Cespitularia
• Efflatounaria Gohar, 1934
• Fungulus
• Straight Xenia Kölliker, 1874
• Ovabunda Alderslade, 2001
• Sansibia
• Sarcothelia
• Sympodium
• Xenia Lamarck, 1816

The long time to Xeniidae counted genus Anthelia does not belong in a phylogenetic study of this family, but is at the base of an unnamed clade, the crown group are the Nephtheidae. The previously belonging to the genera Nephtheidae Lemnalia and Paralemnalia other hand belong to the Xeniidae family.