WoRMS taxon details
Plexaura homomalla (Esper, 1794)
290797 (urn:lsid:marinespecies.org:taxname:290797)
accepted
Species
Eunicea humosa (Esper, 1794) · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Gorgonia homomalla Esper, 1794 · unaccepted > superseded combination (original combination)
Gorgonia humosa Esper, 1794 · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Plexaura homomalla f. homomalla (Esper, 1794) · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Plexaura macrocythara Lamouroux, 1816 · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Plexauropsis tricolor Stiasny, 1935 · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
- Forma Plexaura homomalla f. homomalla (Esper, 1794) accepted as Plexaura homomalla (Esper, 1794) (unaccepted > junior subjective synonym)
- Forma Plexaura homomalla f. kuekenthali Moser, 1921 accepted as Plexaura kuekenthali Moser, 1921 (unaccepted > junior subjective synonym)
marine, brackish, fresh, terrestrial
(of Gorgonia homomalla Esper, 1794) Esper, E.J.C. (1794). Die Pflanzenthiere in Abbildungen nach der Natur mit Farben erleuchtet, nebst Beschreibungen. Zweyter Theil. (Raspe: Nürnberg): 1-303. , available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/50841660
page(s): 104-105 [details]
page(s): 104-105 [details]
McFadden, C.S.; Cordeiro, R.; Samimi-Namin, K.; Hoeksema, B.W., Williams, G.; van Ofwegen, L.P. (2026). World List of Octocorallia. Plexaura homomalla (Esper, 1794). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=290797 on 2026-07-15
Date
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Nomenclature
original description
(of Gorgonia homomalla Esper, 1794) Esper, E.J.C. (1794). Die Pflanzenthiere in Abbildungen nach der Natur mit Farben erleuchtet, nebst Beschreibungen. Zweyter Theil. (Raspe: Nürnberg): 1-303. , available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/50841660
page(s): 104-105 [details]
original description (of Gorgonia humosa Esper, 1794) Esper, E.J.C. (1794). Die Pflanzenthiere in Abbildungen nach der Natur mit Farben erleuchtet, nebst Beschreibungen. Zweyter Theil. (Raspe: Nürnberg): 1-303. , available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/50841660
page(s): 36-38 [details]
original description (of Plexauropsis tricolor Stiasny, 1935) Stiasny, G. (1935). Diagnosen neuer und alter Arten der Gorgonarien-Familie Plexauridae. <em>Zoologischer Anzeiger.</em> 109(9/10): 236-245.
page(s): 241-242 [details] Available for editors
[request]
original description (of Plexaura macrocythara Lamouroux, 1816) Lamouroux, J. V. F. (1816). Histoire des polypiers coralligènes flexibles, vulgairement nommés zoophytes. <em>F. Poisson, Caen.</em> i-lxxxiv, 1-558, pls. I-XIX., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11606092
page(s): 429 [details]
basis of record van Ofwegen, L.P., S.D. Cairns & J. van der Land (eds). (2000-2007). as a contribution to UNESCO-IOC Register of Marine Organisms. (look up in IMIS) [details]
new combination reference Lamouroux, J. V. F. (1812). Extrait d'un mémoire sur la classification des Polypiers coralligènes non entièrement pierreux. Nouveau Bulletin scientifique de la Société Philosophique, 3: 181-188, available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/31775884
page(s): 188 [details]
page(s): 104-105 [details]
original description (of Gorgonia humosa Esper, 1794) Esper, E.J.C. (1794). Die Pflanzenthiere in Abbildungen nach der Natur mit Farben erleuchtet, nebst Beschreibungen. Zweyter Theil. (Raspe: Nürnberg): 1-303. , available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/50841660
page(s): 36-38 [details]
original description (of Plexauropsis tricolor Stiasny, 1935) Stiasny, G. (1935). Diagnosen neuer und alter Arten der Gorgonarien-Familie Plexauridae. <em>Zoologischer Anzeiger.</em> 109(9/10): 236-245.
page(s): 241-242 [details] Available for editors
[request]original description (of Plexaura macrocythara Lamouroux, 1816) Lamouroux, J. V. F. (1816). Histoire des polypiers coralligènes flexibles, vulgairement nommés zoophytes. <em>F. Poisson, Caen.</em> i-lxxxiv, 1-558, pls. I-XIX., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11606092
page(s): 429 [details]
basis of record van Ofwegen, L.P., S.D. Cairns & J. van der Land (eds). (2000-2007). as a contribution to UNESCO-IOC Register of Marine Organisms. (look up in IMIS) [details]
new combination reference Lamouroux, J. V. F. (1812). Extrait d'un mémoire sur la classification des Polypiers coralligènes non entièrement pierreux. Nouveau Bulletin scientifique de la Société Philosophique, 3: 181-188, available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/31775884
page(s): 188 [details]
Other
context source (Bermuda)
Sterrer, W. (1986). Marine fauna and flora of Bermuda: a systematic guide to the identification of marine organisms. <em>Wiley-Interscience Publication. Wiley.</em> 742 pp (Nemertini part). [details] Available for editors [request]
context source (Hexacorallia) Fautin, Daphne G. (2013). Hexacorallians of the World. (look up in IMIS) [details]
additional source Cairns, S.D., and Bayer, F.M., 2009. Octocorallia (Cnidaria) of the Gulf of Mexico, Pp. 321–331 in Felder, D.L. and D.K. Camp (eds.), Gulf of Mexico–Origins, Waters, and Biota. Biodiversity. Texas A&M Press, College Station, Texas. [details]
additional source Breedy, O.; Guzman, H. M. (2007). A revision of the genus Leptogorgia Milne Edwards & Haime, 1857 (Coelenterata: Octocorallia: Gorgoniidae) in the eastern Pacific. <em>Zootaxa.</em> 1419(1): 1-90., available online at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/267561358_A_revision_of_the_genus_Leptogorgia_Milne_Edwards_Haime_1857_Coelenterata_Octocorallia_Gorgoniidae_in_the_eastern_Pacific
page(s): 64 [details] Available for editors [request]
additional source Grajales V.A., Aguilar C., Sánchez J. (2007). Phylogenetic reconstruction using secondary structures of Internal Transcribed Spacer 2 (ITS2, rDNA): finding the molecular and morphological gap in Caribbean gorgonian corals. <em>BMC Evolutionary Biology 7: 90.</em> , available online at https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2148-7-90
page(s): 5, 8 [details]
additional source Kükenthal, W. (1924). Coelenterata: Gorgonaria. in: Das Tierreich (Eine Zusammenstellung und Kennzeichnung der rezenten Tierformen). 47. 478 pp.
page(s): 117 [details] Available for editors [request]
additional source Bayer, F.M. (1961). The shallow-water Octocorallia of the West Indian region. A manual for marine biologists. <em>Studies on the Fauna of Curacao and Other Caribbean Islands.</em> 12:1-373, pls. 1-23., available online at https://repository.naturalis.nl/pub/506065
page(s): 4, 18, 96, 97, 104, 331, 332, 333, 334, 337, 338, 356, Pl. XVI [details] Available for editors [request]
additional source Grasshoff, M.; Alderslade, P. (1997). Gorgoniidae of Indo-Pacific reefs with descriptions of two new genera (Coelenterata: Octocorallia). <em>Senckenbergiana Biologica.</em> 77: 23–25.
page(s): 26 [details]
additional source Bayer, F.M. & K.M. Muzik. (1976). A new solitary octocoral, Taiaroa tauhou gen. et sp. nov. (Coelenterata: Protoalcyonaria) from New Zealand. <em>Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand.</em> 6(4): 499-515., available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/03036758.1976.10421488
page(s): 512 [details] Available for editors [request]
additional source Deichmann, E. (1936). The Alcyonaria of the western part of the Atlantic Ocean. <em>Memoirs of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard College.</em> 53: 1-317, plates 1-37., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/4363633
page(s): 96 [details]
additional source Opresko, D.M. & F.M. Bayer. (1991). Rediscovery of the enigmatic coelenterate Dendrobrachia (Octocorallia: Gorgonacea) with descriptions of two new species. <em>Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia.</em> 115(1): 1-19., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/41148648
page(s): 13 [details] Available for editors [request]
additional source Grasshoff, M.; Bargibant, G. (2001). Coral Reef Gorgonians of New Caledonia. IRD Èditions. Paris., pp. 335., available online at https://horizon.documentation.ird.fr/exl-doc/pleins_textes/divers07-09/010025716.pdf
page(s): 44, 45, 206, 207, 312, 313 [details]
additional source Lasker, H. R. (1983). Vegetative reproduction in the octocoral Briareum asbestinum (Pallas). Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 72, 157-169, available online at https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-0981(83)90141-7
page(s): 162 [details]
additional source Lasker, H. R.; Coffroth, M. (1983). Octocoral distributions at Carrie Bow Cay, Belize. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 13, 21-28, available online at https://doi.org/10.3354/meps013021
page(s): 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 [details]
additional source Coma, R.; Zabala, M.; Gili, J. (1995). Sexual reproductive effort in the Mediterranean gorgonian Paramuricea clavata. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 117, 185-192, available online at https://doi.org/10.3354/meps117185
page(s): 190 [details]
additional source Zeevi Ben-Yosef, D.; Benayahu, Y. (1999). The gorgonian coral Acabaria biserialis: life history of a successful colonizer of artificial substrata. Marine Biology, 135, 473-481, available online at https://doi.org/10.1007/s002270050647
page(s): 473, 474, 477, 480 [details]
additional source Wirshing, H. H.; Messing, C. G.; Douady, C. J.; Reed, J. K.; Stanhope, M. J. (2005). Molecular evidence for multiple lineages in the gorgonian family Plexauridae (Anthozoa: Octocorallia). Marine Biology, 147, 497-508, available online at https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-005-1592-y
page(s): 500, 503, 505, 506 [details]
additional source Sánchez, J. A.; Wirshing, H. H. (2005). A field key to the identification of tropical western Atlantic zooxanthellate octocorals (Octocorallia: Cnidaria). Caribbean Journal of Science, 41(3): 508-522
page(s): 516, 517, 519 [details]
additional source Coma, R.; Ribes, M.; Zabala, M.; Gili, J. (1995). Reproduction and cycle of gonadal development in the Mediterranean gorgonian Paramuricea clavata. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 117, 173-183, available online at https://doi.org/10.3354/meps117173
page(s): 180 [details]
additional source Bayer, F. M. (1992). The helioporacean octocoral Epiphaxum, recent and fossil: a monographic iconography. Studies in Tropical Oceanography, 15, 1-76
page(s): 74 [details] Available for editors [request]
[request]context source (Hexacorallia) Fautin, Daphne G. (2013). Hexacorallians of the World. (look up in IMIS) [details]
additional source Cairns, S.D., and Bayer, F.M., 2009. Octocorallia (Cnidaria) of the Gulf of Mexico, Pp. 321–331 in Felder, D.L. and D.K. Camp (eds.), Gulf of Mexico–Origins, Waters, and Biota. Biodiversity. Texas A&M Press, College Station, Texas. [details]
additional source Breedy, O.; Guzman, H. M. (2007). A revision of the genus Leptogorgia Milne Edwards & Haime, 1857 (Coelenterata: Octocorallia: Gorgoniidae) in the eastern Pacific. <em>Zootaxa.</em> 1419(1): 1-90., available online at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/267561358_A_revision_of_the_genus_Leptogorgia_Milne_Edwards_Haime_1857_Coelenterata_Octocorallia_Gorgoniidae_in_the_eastern_Pacific
page(s): 64 [details] Available for editors
[request]additional source Grajales V.A., Aguilar C., Sánchez J. (2007). Phylogenetic reconstruction using secondary structures of Internal Transcribed Spacer 2 (ITS2, rDNA): finding the molecular and morphological gap in Caribbean gorgonian corals. <em>BMC Evolutionary Biology 7: 90.</em> , available online at https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2148-7-90
page(s): 5, 8 [details]
additional source Kükenthal, W. (1924). Coelenterata: Gorgonaria. in: Das Tierreich (Eine Zusammenstellung und Kennzeichnung der rezenten Tierformen). 47. 478 pp.
page(s): 117 [details] Available for editors
[request]additional source Bayer, F.M. (1961). The shallow-water Octocorallia of the West Indian region. A manual for marine biologists. <em>Studies on the Fauna of Curacao and Other Caribbean Islands.</em> 12:1-373, pls. 1-23., available online at https://repository.naturalis.nl/pub/506065
page(s): 4, 18, 96, 97, 104, 331, 332, 333, 334, 337, 338, 356, Pl. XVI [details] Available for editors
[request]additional source Grasshoff, M.; Alderslade, P. (1997). Gorgoniidae of Indo-Pacific reefs with descriptions of two new genera (Coelenterata: Octocorallia). <em>Senckenbergiana Biologica.</em> 77: 23–25.
page(s): 26 [details]
additional source Bayer, F.M. & K.M. Muzik. (1976). A new solitary octocoral, Taiaroa tauhou gen. et sp. nov. (Coelenterata: Protoalcyonaria) from New Zealand. <em>Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand.</em> 6(4): 499-515., available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/03036758.1976.10421488
page(s): 512 [details] Available for editors
[request]additional source Deichmann, E. (1936). The Alcyonaria of the western part of the Atlantic Ocean. <em>Memoirs of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard College.</em> 53: 1-317, plates 1-37., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/4363633
page(s): 96 [details]
additional source Opresko, D.M. & F.M. Bayer. (1991). Rediscovery of the enigmatic coelenterate Dendrobrachia (Octocorallia: Gorgonacea) with descriptions of two new species. <em>Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia.</em> 115(1): 1-19., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/41148648
page(s): 13 [details] Available for editors
[request]additional source Grasshoff, M.; Bargibant, G. (2001). Coral Reef Gorgonians of New Caledonia. IRD Èditions. Paris., pp. 335., available online at https://horizon.documentation.ird.fr/exl-doc/pleins_textes/divers07-09/010025716.pdf
page(s): 44, 45, 206, 207, 312, 313 [details]
additional source Lasker, H. R. (1983). Vegetative reproduction in the octocoral Briareum asbestinum (Pallas). Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 72, 157-169, available online at https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-0981(83)90141-7
page(s): 162 [details]
additional source Lasker, H. R.; Coffroth, M. (1983). Octocoral distributions at Carrie Bow Cay, Belize. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 13, 21-28, available online at https://doi.org/10.3354/meps013021
page(s): 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 [details]
additional source Coma, R.; Zabala, M.; Gili, J. (1995). Sexual reproductive effort in the Mediterranean gorgonian Paramuricea clavata. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 117, 185-192, available online at https://doi.org/10.3354/meps117185
page(s): 190 [details]
additional source Zeevi Ben-Yosef, D.; Benayahu, Y. (1999). The gorgonian coral Acabaria biserialis: life history of a successful colonizer of artificial substrata. Marine Biology, 135, 473-481, available online at https://doi.org/10.1007/s002270050647
page(s): 473, 474, 477, 480 [details]
additional source Wirshing, H. H.; Messing, C. G.; Douady, C. J.; Reed, J. K.; Stanhope, M. J. (2005). Molecular evidence for multiple lineages in the gorgonian family Plexauridae (Anthozoa: Octocorallia). Marine Biology, 147, 497-508, available online at https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-005-1592-y
page(s): 500, 503, 505, 506 [details]
additional source Sánchez, J. A.; Wirshing, H. H. (2005). A field key to the identification of tropical western Atlantic zooxanthellate octocorals (Octocorallia: Cnidaria). Caribbean Journal of Science, 41(3): 508-522
page(s): 516, 517, 519 [details]
additional source Coma, R.; Ribes, M.; Zabala, M.; Gili, J. (1995). Reproduction and cycle of gonadal development in the Mediterranean gorgonian Paramuricea clavata. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 117, 173-183, available online at https://doi.org/10.3354/meps117173
page(s): 180 [details]
additional source Bayer, F. M. (1992). The helioporacean octocoral Epiphaxum, recent and fossil: a monographic iconography. Studies in Tropical Oceanography, 15, 1-76
page(s): 74 [details] Available for editors
[request]
Present Present in aphia/obis/gbif/idigbio Inaccurate Introduced: alien Containing type locality
To Barcode of Life (15 barcodes)
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (36 publications)
To European Nucleotide Archive, ENA (Plexaura homomalla)
To GenBank (117 nucleotides; 103 proteins) (from synonym Gorgonia homomalla Esper, 1794)
To GenBank (117 nucleotides; 103 proteins)
To Global Biotic Interactions (GloBI)
To NMNH Extant Collection (Lewis Bayer)
To NMNH Extant Collection (Lewis Bayer)
To USNM Invertebrate Zoology Cnidaria Collection (142 records)
To USNM Invertebrate Zoology Cnidaria Collection (2 records) (from synonym Plexauropsis tricolor Stiasny, 1935)
To ITIS
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (36 publications)
To European Nucleotide Archive, ENA (Plexaura homomalla)
To GenBank (117 nucleotides; 103 proteins) (from synonym Gorgonia homomalla Esper, 1794)
To GenBank (117 nucleotides; 103 proteins)
To Global Biotic Interactions (GloBI)
To NMNH Extant Collection (Lewis Bayer)
To NMNH Extant Collection (Lewis Bayer)
To USNM Invertebrate Zoology Cnidaria Collection (142 records)
To USNM Invertebrate Zoology Cnidaria Collection (2 records) (from synonym Plexauropsis tricolor Stiasny, 1935)
To ITIS
Unreviewed
Hosted externally
Hosted externally
