Pteronisis

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Pteronisis is a genus of coral in the family Mopseidae. It includes several species: Pteronisis echinaxis, P. incerta, P. laboutei, P. oliganema, P. plumacea, P. provocatoris, and P. whiteleggei.

The name comes from the Greek word pteron, meaning “feather,” because the corals have feather-like, pinnate branching. Most specimens are under 20 cm, but some can reach at least 36 cm.

Pteronisis corals are mostly flat (planar) and heavily branched like a feather, with one exception. The internodes (the spaces between branch joints) are generally colorless, greyish white, or pale pink or red. The axial nodes are usually brown near the base, yellowish in the main branches, and pale yellow, white, or colorless with a darker central band in the pinnae.