A new gorgonian genus from deep-sea Antarctic waters (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea, Plexauridae)
In: Helgoland Marine Research. Springer: Berlin; Heidelberg. ISSN 1438-387X; e-ISSN 1438-3888, meer
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| Author keywords |
Cnidaria; Octocorallia; Alcyonacea; Plexauridae; Antarctica;Mesogligorgia |
| Abstract |
Mesogligorgia scotiae gen. nov., sp. nov. is described and illustrated from a colony collected in the Scotia Sea, 2,201 - 2,213 m in depth, on the ANDEEP-I cruise. The new taxon is placed in the family Plexauridae because of: 1) The presence of a horny axis with a cross-chambered central core and numerous loculi, 2) retractile polyps in calyces with distinct spicular components, and 3) armed polyps with large sclerites with a poorly- developed collaret and eight well-developed points. The irregularly distributed sclerites running along the axis, into a thick mesogloeal coenenchyme, and the elongated spindles with irregular ends are the most distinctive characters of the newly proposed genus. |
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