Culicia tenella Dana, 1846: 377–378 Hoffmeister, 1933: 11–12 C. hoffmeisteri Gardiner, 1939: 230 C. tenella natalensis Boshoff, 1981: 25 C. tenella natalensis Wells, 1955: 14 Squires, 1961: 18 Wells, 1964: 109 Veron, 1986: 600 Cylicia [sic] tenella Tenison-Woods, 1878b: 325 The Azooxanthellate Scleractinia (Coelenterata: Anthozoa) of Australia Cairns, S. D. Records of the Australian Museum 2004 56 259 329 7GPS6 tenella Dana, 1846 tenella Dana 1846 [236,633,961,986] Anthozoa Rhizangiidae Culicia Animalia Scleractinia 15 274 Cnidaria subSpecies tenella tenella      Culicia tenella Dana, 1846: 377–378, pl. 28, figs. 6a,b.– Not  Hoffmeister, 1933: 11–12(=  C. hoffmeisteri).– Not  Gardiner, 1939: 230(= C. tenella natalensis).– Not  Boshoff, 1981: 25(=  C. tenella natalensis).–  Wells, 1955: 14( Qld).–Stephenson & Wells, 1956: 55 ( listed).–  Squires, 1961: 18( listed).–  Wells, 1964: 109( listed).–  Veron, 1986: 600, figs. 1–3 ( NSW).    Cylicia[sic] tenella.–Milne Edwards & Haime, 1857: 608 (in part: not specimen from Capeof Good Hope).–  Tenison-Woods, 1878b: 325(remarks).  New record.  QUEENSLAND: 20°33.16'S 149°05.28'E( Thomas Island),  30 m,  3 November 1988, 1 colony, USNM 86002.   Types. The holotypeis USNM 184. Type Locality: Port Jackson, New South Wales, depth unknown.   Remarks. At least four species of  Culiciaare known from Australia, all of them occurring off the coasts of the eastern states. Because they are found in shallow water they are easily and frequently collected, but all too often misidentified because this genus has never been revised. I have now examined the typesof all four species as well as subsequently collected specimens from various museums, and present a table of differentiating characters ( Table 4) to aid in the distinction of these species. Based on a combination of four characters (calicular diameter, number of septa, septal arrangement, and axial edge ornamentation) most specimens can be identified. To elaborate on Table 4,  C. tenellacan be distinguished by having relatively small corallites with laciniate axial septal edges.  Culicia australiensishas three size classes of 48 closely-spaced septa and the S1 axial edge is entire except for 1–2 small teeth near the columella.  Culicia hoffmeisterihas the largest corallites, only 24–26 well-spaced septa occurring in two size classes, and S1 axial edges that are coarsely lobate.  Culicia quinariahas septal margins like those of  C. hoffmeisteri, but are smaller in size and have a different septal arrangement. Two other species of  Culicia, C. verreauxiiand  C. smithi, have been reported from Australia, but both are considered to be dubious records (see p. 319). Finally,  Culicia magna(Tenison-Woods, 1878)is a junior synonym of  Scolymia australis(Milne Edwards & Haime, 1849).  Tenison-Woods (1878b: 325)made the confusing statement that “  Cylicia tenellais said to come from Australiabut Messrs. Ed. and H. refer it to the Cape.” It is true that Milne Edwards & Haime (1857) refer  C. tenellato both Australiaand the Cape of Good Hope, but do not dispute that the typelocality is Australia. Their African specimen is deposited at the BM and undoubtedly formed the basis for the description of  Culicia tenella natalensis Duncan, 1876. 1988-11-03 USNM 30 -20.552666 Thomas Island 12 149.088 15 274 USNM 86002 1 Queensland USNM Port Jackson 15 274 USNM 184 1 New South Wales holotype