Sphenopidae Hertwig, 1882, 1828

Low, Martyn E. Y., Sinniger, Frederic & Reimer, James Davis, 2016, The order Zoantharia Rafinesque, 1815 (Cnidaria, Anthozoa: Hexacorallia): supraspecific classification and nomenclature, ZooKeys 641, pp. 1-80 : 4-5

Sphenopidae Hertwig, 1882

Palythoidae (as “Palythoae”) Duchassaing de Fonbressin and Michelotti, 1860: 37.

Sphenopidae Hertwig, 1882: 120.

Type genus.

Sphenopus Steenstrup, 1856.

Gender.

Masculine.

Diagnosis.

Brachycnemic zoantharians with sand/detritus incrustation in the ectoderm and mesoglea.

Remarks.

The family-group name Sphenopidae Hertwig, 1882, is currently threatened by the senior subjective synonym Palythoidae Duchassaing de Fonbressin and Michelotti, 1860. To maintain widespread and current usage of the former name, and in accordance with Article 23.9.2 ( ICZN 1999: 28, 29), an application is being prepared to request the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature to suppress the senior subjective synonym Palythoidae Duchassaing de Fonbressin & Michelotti, 1860, in favour of Sphenopidae Hertwig, 1882. See additional discussion in Appendix 3.

The family-group Sphenopidae was established by Hertwig (1882), with the inclusion of only the type genus, Sphenopus Steenstrup, 1856. Two genera are currently assigned to Sphenopidae Hertwig, 1882.