The genus Renilla is an interesting taxon for phylogenetic studies, which includes six species endemic to America with an anphiamerican distribution (Pacific–Atlantic Ocean). A cladistic analysis of Renilla Lamarck, 1816 using eight characters from external morphology produced one cladogram (length 14, CI = 0.92, RI = 0.87), and the characters were polarized using Echinoptilum macintoshii Hubre...

In earlier investigations on the bioluminescent system of the sea pansy, Renilla renifformis, we reported that adenine-containing nucleotides (either adenosine mono-, di-, or triphosphate), an oxidizable substrate (Renilla luciferin), molecular oxygen, and an enzyme (RenilZa luciferase) were required for luminescence in crude extracts of this organism (1, 2). In addition, several lines of evide...