A new genus of nephtheid soft corals (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) from the Indo-Pacific

A new genus of nephtheid soft corals is described from the Indo-Pacific, 53 species are included, 34 of which are new to science: Chromonephthea aldersladei spec. nov., C. bayeri spec. nov., C. benayahui spec. nov., C. braziliensis spec. nov., C. brevis spec. nov., C. cairnsi spec. nov., C. cobourgensis spec. nov., C. egmondi spec. nov., C. exosis spec. nov., C. franseni spec. nov., C. frondosa spec. nov., C. fruticosa spec. nov., C. goudi spec. nov., C. grandis spec. nov., C. grasshoffispec. nov., C. hoeksemai spec. nov., C. hornerae spec. nov., C. imaharai spec. nov., C. imperfecta spec. nov., C. levis spec. nov., C. megasclera spec. nov., C. minor spec. nov., C. muironensis spec. nov., C. obscura spec. nov., C. ostrina spec. nov., C. palauensis spec. nov., C. rotunda spec. nov., C. simulata spec. nov., C. singularis spec. nov., C. slieringsi spec. nov., C. spinosa spec. nov., C. tentoriae spec. nov. C. variabilis spec. nov., and C. williamsi spec. nov. The other 19 species were previously assigned to the genera Nephthea, Stereonephthya, Dendronephthya and Paraspongodes. Spongodes costatocyanea Burchardt, 1898 is synonymized with C. costatofulva (Burchardt, 1898); Stereonephthya longicaulis Kükenthal, 1911 with C. curvata (Kükenthal, 1911); Nephthya australis Kükenthal, 1910, with C. rubra (Kükenthal, 1910); Nephthya quercus Kükenthal, 1910 with C. rubra (Kükenthal, 1910); and Nephthya granulata Kükenthal, 1910, with C. hartmeyeri (Kükenthal, 1910). The morphological characters used to identify the species of Chromonephthea are discussed. Differences with the related genera Nephthea, Litophyton, Stereonephthya, Neospongodes, and Dendronephthya are mentioned. An illustrated key to the species is provided. The distribution of Chromonephthea species is presented and their apparent endemism is discussed.