Survey of the family Corynidae (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa)

Abstract

All genera and species of the family Corynidae are reviewed and the validity of some species discussed. Descriptions and figures for most valid species are given. The classification based on cladistic principles established by Petersen (1990) is discussed and modified. The family Corynidae encompasses the genera Coryne, Sarsia, Dipurena, Nannocoryne. Cladosarsia, Bicorona, and Dicyclocoryne. The family Dicyclocorynidae is not recognised and its members returned to the Corynidae. The genus Bicorona is redefined to accommodate Coryne tricycla Schuchert, 1996 as Bicorona tricycla comb. nov. The genus Dicodonium is excluded from the Corynidae because its type species is most probably an Ectopleura species and thus belongs to the Tubulariidae.