title: A revision of the genus Muricea Lamouroux, 1821 (Anthozoa, Octocorallia) in the eastern Pacific. Part I: Eumuricea Verrill, 1869 revisited.
abstract: Muricea is an amphi-American genus. Verrill proposed dividing the species from the Pacific Ocean into three genera and established the genus Eumuricea for five eastern Pacific species with tubular calyces. Eumuricea is basically characterized by colonies with elongate, cylindrical calyces with truncate margins and star-like opercula, and the occurrence of unilateral spinous spindles. According to these characteristics, Eumuricea does not show enough difference from Muricea to be treated as a separate genus. Original type material of Eumuricea was morphologically analysed and illustrated using optical and scanning electron microscopy. We conclude that the eastern Pacific species should be placed in the genus Muricea and form a group characterised by tubular calyces that comprises four species at present, Muricea acervata, Muricea hispida, Muricea squarrosa, and Muricea tubigera and a dubious species Muricea horrida. Lectotypes were designated for Muricea squarrosa and Muricea hispida to establish their taxonomic status. The genus Eumuricea has also been misunderstood by former authors who erroneously assigned species to it. For these species we propose new combinations: Swiftia pusilla, Astrogorgia splendens and Astrogorgia ramosa.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación en Estructuras Microscópicas, Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad de Costa Rica. P.O. Box 11501-2060, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica; Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, P.O. Box 0843-03092, Panama, Republic of Panama.
authors.forename: Odalisca
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Breedy
authors.affiliation: Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, P.O. Box 0843-03092, Panama, Republic of Panama.
authors.forename: Hector M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Guzman
keywords: Alcyonacea; Astrogorgia; Cnidaria; Eumuricea; Leptogorgia; Muricea; Swiftia; eastern Pacific; plexaurid gorgonian; soft corals; taxonomy