Aldersladum, Benayahu, Yehuda & McFadden, Catherine S., 2011

Benayahu, Yehuda & McFadden, Catherine S., 2011, A new genus of soft coral of the family Alcyoniidae (Cnidaria, Octocorallia) with re-description of a new combination and description of a new species, ZooKeys 84, pp. 1-11 : 2

Aldersladum gen. n.

Type species.

Efflatounaria sodwanae Benayahu, 1993: 11-14, here designated.

Etymology.

The genus name (gender-neutral) honors Dr. Phil Alderslade, a prominent octocoral taxonomist and a friend, in recognition of his immense contribution to the study of octocorals.

Diagnosis and description.

Colonies have a low encrusting base, holdfast-like, from which lobes arise. The lobes vary in size from short, knob-like to longer, finger-like. The non-retractile monomorphic polyps are densely arranged on the lobes. The same type of sclerite is found in all parts of the colony, as confirmed by both light microscopy and SEM examination. It comprises platelets that are narrower across their mid-lateral line. A longitudinal slit, sometimes narrower in its middle part, is commonly found on the platelet’s flat surface, located at the center and occupying about half its length, thus giving the sclerite a typical figure-eight form. The surface of the platelets is characterized by the appearance of an uneven crystal deposition that gives it a porous texture. Colonies are zooxanthellate.