Nephtheidae

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Nephtheidae
File:Capnella sp.JPG
Capnella sp.
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Subphylum: Anthozoa
Class: Octocorallia
Order: Malacalcyonacea
Family: Nephtheidae
Gray, 1862 [1]
Genera
See text

Nephtheidae is a family of soft corals in the phylum Cnidaria. Members of this family are known as carnation corals, tree corals or colt soft corals. They are very attractive and show a wide range of rich and pastel colours including reds, pinks, yellows and purples. They are popular with reef aquarium hobbyists.[2]

Most of these corals are arborescent and have little knobs on the end of their rubbery branches. The coral polyps tend to retract in the daytime which gives these corals their alternative name of broccoli corals because of their resemblance to the vegetable. At night the polyps emerge and extend their tentacles to feed, looking like little bunches of flowers on the ends of the branches.[3]

Genera

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The World Register of Marine Species includes the following genera in this family:[4]

References

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  1. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  2. ^ The Soft Corals, Order Alcyonacea; Use In Reef Aquariums Wet Web Media. Retrieved 2012-01-23.
  3. ^ Corals of many colors: The Nephtheidae Family The Right Blue. Retrieved 2012-01-23.
  4. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).

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