A new family and two new genera of calcaxonian octocoral, including a redescription of Pleurogorgia militaris (Cnidaria:Octocorallia:Chrysogorgiidae) and its placement in a new genus

Abstract

Golden corals (chrysogorgiids sensu lato) are conspicuous components in deep-sea gorgonian assemblages. Although common, their taxonomy still conflicts with evolutionary histories, mostly due to low character availability and poor taxonomic knowledge. This is the case for the genus Pleurogorgia, which has been frequently reported in ROV surveys, dominating hard-bottoms throughout the Indo-Pacific. Herein, molecular phylogenetic reconstructions based on mitochondrial and nuclear datasets, and examination of new and old type material led us to suggest new systematic arrangements for some of the genera. We create a new genus, Ramuligorgia, to accommodate Pleurogorgia militaris, redescribing it as Ramuligorgia militaris comb. nov. within the family Chrysogorgiidae sensu stricto. Additionally, we describe Aurogorgia tasmaniensis gen. nov. et sp. nov., including it and the type species, Pleurogorgia plana, within Pleurogorgiidae fam. nov.