Thecopsammia
Pourtales, 1868, p. 138
Type Species
T. socialis Pourtales, 1868,138, no fig.; Subsequent Monotypy Vaughan and Wells, 1943, p. 240
Type Specimen: Syntype; MCZ 5601, 2773; Verified; Dry Preserved
Type Locality: Recent: off Florida Keys, 214-879 m.
40 syntypes at MCZ; additional syntypes at YPM 4764 (1), and NHM (5).Type species best described by Cairns (1979).
Classification
Diagnosis
Corallum solitary, trochoid, firmly attached; epitheca present; Pourtalès plan present; paliform present or absent; columella small and discrete; azooxanthellate.
Comparisons
Differs from Balanophyllia in lacking costae but having a significant amount of epitheca.
Remarks
This genus and family were monographed by Cairns (2001), which included a phylogenetic analysis based on morphology. Three species, including one fossil.
This page has been in preparation since 18-Jul-2008 22:04
This version was contributed by Stephen D. Cairns on 30-Oct-2008 19:44.
Page authors are: Stephen D. Cairns. Please contact the editor if you would like to contribute to the diagnosis of this taxon.
The editor is: Stephen D. Cairns
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