Tenerodus

Diagnosis. Colonies lobate, lobes often arising from encrusting, membranous base. Polyps retractile. Sclerites are spindles, rods, clubs, tuberculated spheroids and irregular forms. Some radiates present in base of colony. Distal region of polyps with rods that may be arranged as points, but lacking collaret. Interior of colony with same sclerite types as surface. Sclerites colorless.

Remarks. Tenerodus n. gen. differs from the superficially similar genus Alcyonium in the arrangement of sclerites in the tissues. In Alcyonium sensu stricto the coenenchymal sclerites are arranged in two distinct layers, a surface layer that includes radiates and clubs and an interior layer with spindles; the polyp sclerites are arranged in a collaret and points. In Tenerodus n. gen. there is no distinction between surface and interior layers; the same sclerite types are present from the polyps to the colony base and interior, spindles are not present in the colony interior, and the polyp sclerites never form a collaret. In addition, the sclerites of Tenerodus n. gen. are always colorless (the vivid colors of living colonies are due to ethanol-soluble pigments) while in Alcyonium they are usually colored. The sclerite forms found in Tenerodus n. gen. are similar to those seen in the nephtheid genus Drifa Danielssen, but in that genus the polyps are arranged on catkins and are non-retractile.

Etymology. From the Latin tener - meaning soft and rodus meaning a rough mass or lump. Hence, a soft mass. Gender: masc.

Type species. Alcyonium fallax Lüttschwager, 1922 by original designation