{{Short description|Genus of corals}} {{Automatic taxobox | image = Gersemia antarctica, near McMurdo Station, Ross Island.JPG | image_caption = ''Gersemia antarctica'' | taxon = Gersemia | authority = Marenzeller, 1877 <ref name=WoRMS>{{cite WoRMS |author= Martinez, Olga |year=2010 |title=Gersemia; Marenzeller, 1877 |id=146953 |accessdate=2012-01-24 |db=}}</ref> | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = {{center|See text}} }}
'''''Gersemia''''' is a genus of soft corals in the family Nephtheidae. Species in this genus are found in cold temperate and polar seas at depths ranging from {{convert|20|m}} to over {{convert|2000|m}}. The type species is ''Gersemia loricata''.
==Characteristics== Colonies of ''Gersemia'' are arborescent, growing erectly with one main stem. The polyps are most numerous at the branch tips and are unable to retract into the calyces. The walls of the stalk and branches are stiffened with sclerites which are often brightly coloured. Corals in this genus do not contain zooxanthellae, the microalgae symbionts found in some other corals.<ref>[http://dpc.uba.uva.nl/cgi/t/text/get-pdf?c=zoomed;idno=8304a34 The nephtheid soft coral genus ''Gersemia'' Marenzeller, 1878, with the description of a new species from the northeast Pacific and a review of two additional species (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea)]</ref>
==Species== The World Register of Marine Species includes the following species in the genus:<ref name=WoRMS/>
*''Gersemia antarctica''<small> (Kükenthal, 1902)</small> *''Gersemia carnea''<small> Verrill</small> *''Gersemia clavata''<small> (Danielssen, 1887)</small> *''Gersemia crassa''<small> (Danielssen, 1887)</small> *''Gersemia danielsseni''<small> (Studer, 1891)</small> *''Gersemia fruticosa''<small> Sars, 1860</small> *''Gersemia hicksoni'' <small>(Gravier, 1913)</small> *''Gersemia japonica'' <small>(Kükenthal, 1906)</small> *''Gersemia juliepackardae'' <small>Williams & Lundsten, 2009</small> *''Gersemia lambi'' <small>Williams, 2013</small> *''Gersemia liltvedi'' <small>(Verseveldt & Williams, 1988)</small> *''Gersemia loricata''<small> von Marenzeller, 1878</small> *''Gersemia marenzelleri''<small> Kükenthal, 1906</small> *''Gersemia mirabilis''<small> (Danielssen, 1887)</small> *''Gersemia rubiformis''<small> (Ehrenberg, 1834)</small> *''Gersemia studeri''<small> Verrill</small> *''Gersemia uvaeformis''<small> (May, 1900)</small>
==References== {{Reflist}}
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Category:Nephtheidae Category:Octocorallia genera
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