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The only revision of Iphione was made by Pettibone in 1986, who recognized four species including two newly described in that work: I. muricata (Savigny in Lamarck, 1818) (type species), I. ovata Kinberg, 1856, I. treadwelli Pettibone, 1986, and I. henshawi Pettibone, 1986. She included I. fimbriata de Quatrefages, 1866, I. glabra de Quatrefages, 1866, and I. fustis Hoagland, 1920 within I. muricata, and I. spinosa Kinberg, 1856 and I. hirotai Izuka, 1912 in I. ovata. Three other species were later added to the genus: I. reticulata Amoureux, Rullier & Fishelson, 1978 from the Red Sea, I. coriolis Hanley & Burke, 1991 from the Coral Sea, and I. malifera Piotrowski, 2014 from the Philippines. A recent contribution showed that I. ovata ranges from the Red Sea to the Eastern Pacific and includes I. spinosa and I. reticulata. Our objectives were to revise the genus, evaluating all species and describing new ones by assessing the relevance of morphological features, assisted in part with COI sequence data. We studied the morphology of type and non-type material from 18 institutions and sequenced 52 specimens representing 11 species. We found that the size and position of eyes, the size relationships between cephalic appendages, and the number of rows of macrotubercles in elytra vary with body size. The most relevant diagnostic features for species delineation, confirmed by genetic species delineation, are the type and size relationships of macrotubercles, the presence of fimbriae, the development of the basal tubercle of dorsal cirrophores, the type of neurochaetae (falcate versus acicular), and their tips (uni- vs bidentate; or simple vs hooded). We clarified the type species of the genus as I. ovata, and recognized 17 species, nine previously described and eight new. Our main results include: 1) the restriction of I. muricata; 2) the reinstatement of I. fimbriata including I. fustis; 3) redescriptions of I. coriolis, I. henshawi and I. treadwelli; and 4) the description of eight new species: I. ankeri sp. nov. from Guam, I. corbari sp. nov. from the Saya de Malha Bank, I. harrisae sp. nov. from French Polynesia, I. hourdezi sp. nov. from New Caledonia, I. hyndmani sp. nov. from Hong Kong, I. readi sp. nov. from the Red Sea (including many earlier records of I. muricata), I. richeri sp. nov. from New Caledonia, and I. wilsoni sp. nov. from Australia. Descriptions the eight newly described species include only one based upon a single specimen. Keys are included for the genera in the family, and species of Iphione.  

The type of the xeniid soft coral Sansibia flava (May, 1898) is re-described for the first time and its morphological diagnosis is presented. A subsequent integrated analysis of molecular and morphological characters of related Xeniidae, including species indigenous to the Indo-Pacific Ocean and invasive in the Atlantic (Brazil), led to the description of a new Sansibia species, as well as two new genera comprising an additional three new species. All of these taxa are encrusting, with polyps arising directly from a spreading basal membrane. Molecular phylogenetic analyses show that these genera are not sister taxa, thus further emphasizing the remarkable phylogenetic diversity of xeniids with such a growth form. The sclerites of all species are uniformly ellipsoid platelets, abundant throughout the colony. The species exhibit restricted, non-overlapping geographic ranges, with distinct genotypes (molecular operational taxonomic units) found in different marine realms. The results emphasize the importance of re-examination of original old type material while applying molecular phylogenetic analyses in order to delineate species boundaries and to recognize biodiversity patterns. 

The oldest existing type material for any of the xeniid soft corals, Sympodium caeruleum Ehrenberg, 1834, is re-described. An integrated analysis of molecular and morphological characters of Indo-Pacific Xeniidae support the description of seven new species of that genus. The extent of interspecific morphological variation within the genus is extensive; colonies arise from an encrusting membrane of variable thickness that can be either mat-like or may have ribbon-like extensions or irregularly shaped low mounds. The polyps can either arise separately from the membrane or may be arranged into clusters of polyps that bud off at different levels to form small branched groups. The sclerites of all species are uniformly ellipsoid platelets, abundant throughout the colony. The genetic results suggest that Sympodium species demonstrate restricted geographic ranges and regional endemism, with distinct genotypes (molecular operational taxonomic units) each mostly found at a single Indo-Pacific location. The results emphasize the importance of integrating classical taxonomy with a re-examination of original old type material and molecular phylogenetic analyses, in order to delineate species boundaries and to recognize biodiversity patterns. 

Because of the problematical identity and status of the type of the xeniid soft coral genus Cespitularia Milne-Edwards & Haime, 1850, the species C. stolonifera Gohar, 1938 is revised. Examination of the type colonies has led to the establishment of the new genus Unomia gen. n. which is described and depicted. This genus features a stalk, commonly divided into branches featuring a diffuse polypiferous part consisting of distal clustered polyps and proximal individual ones on the stalk or the basal membranous part of the colonies. The sclerites are ellipsoid platelets composed of dendritic calcite rods whose tips are distinct on the surface of the platelets. Freshly collected material from Venezuelan reefs where the species is invasive was subjected to molecular phylogenetic analysis, the results of which substantiate the taxonomic assignment of the new genus under U. stolonifera comb. n. A new species, U. complanatis, from Japan and Green Island (Taiwan) is described and further illustrates the extent of the interspecific morphological variation within the genus. The results reveal that the biogeographic distribution of Unomia gen. n. includes Pacific Ocean reefs in addition to the previously reported invaded Caribbean reefs.