E. J. C. ESPER described seven new species of antipatharian corals (Cnidaria, Anthozoa, Antipatharia). Type specimens of four of these species are present in the collections of the Senckenberg-Museum; those of Antipathes paniculata, Aphanipathes reticulata, Leiopathes glaberrima, Parantipathes larix. The current study was undertaken to better understand ESPER'S species by completing a detailed analysis of the original German descriptions, and by re-examining and re-describing the available type material using modern methods, including scanning electron microscopy. The type species for Aphanipathes BROOK 1889 is designated: Aphanipathes sarothamnoides BROOK 1889.