Frontiers in Marine Science
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Finds of the deep-water gorgonian Victorgorgia fasciculata have only been reported from the Mariana Trench in the western Pacific Ocean.
The holotype of the coral was collected from a seamount (M2) near the Mariana Trench at a water depth of 475 meters (temperature 7.24°C; salinity 36.5), from rocky bottom on 26 March 2016 by the FX-Dive 69 station.
Holotype and paratype were inhabited by an individual from the order Ophiuroidae (Euryalida), the paratype is 255 mm long and 155 mm wide, and has almost the same characteristics as the holotype in both colony shape and sclerites.
The main stem of the colonies are almost circular, 18.8 - 20.5 mm in diameter, about 36 mm long, before two large lateral branches develop.
The large lateral branches are laterally compressed, the larger being 15.1 mm wide and 18.2 mm deep, the smaller about 13.1 mm wide and 17.0 mm deep.
Terminal branches are 15-45 mm long and 3.0-6.0 mm in diameter (excluding polyp tufts).
Polyp tufts usually contain 10 - 20 polyps and the tufts are 10 -15 mm wide. Anastomoses are not present. Medulla consists of densely packed sclerites separated from cortex by a border space consisting of anastomoses of border canals (Figure 3G).
Polyps are scattered around branches and at right angles.
The tentacles are armed mainly with Josephinae clubs, which have simple tubercles and particularly narrow, mostly smooth peduncles, and are 188-419 μm long.
The polyps and coenenchyma are dark purple in vivo and in the freshly collected holotype specimen,
All sclerites transparent and colorless in transmitted light.
Etymology:
The Latin adjective fasciculata (fascicular) refers to the distinct autozooid clumps of the species.
Literature reference:
www.frontiersin.org
Frontiers in Marine Science
Authors: Yang li, Zifeng Zhan and Kuidong Xu
Morphology and Molecular Phylogenetic Analysis of Deep-Sea Purple Gorgonians (Octocorallia: Victorgorgiidae) from Seamounts in the Tropical Western Pacific, with Description of Three New Species
The holotype of the coral was collected from a seamount (M2) near the Mariana Trench at a water depth of 475 meters (temperature 7.24°C; salinity 36.5), from rocky bottom on 26 March 2016 by the FX-Dive 69 station.
Holotype and paratype were inhabited by an individual from the order Ophiuroidae (Euryalida), the paratype is 255 mm long and 155 mm wide, and has almost the same characteristics as the holotype in both colony shape and sclerites.
The main stem of the colonies are almost circular, 18.8 - 20.5 mm in diameter, about 36 mm long, before two large lateral branches develop.
The large lateral branches are laterally compressed, the larger being 15.1 mm wide and 18.2 mm deep, the smaller about 13.1 mm wide and 17.0 mm deep.
Terminal branches are 15-45 mm long and 3.0-6.0 mm in diameter (excluding polyp tufts).
Polyp tufts usually contain 10 - 20 polyps and the tufts are 10 -15 mm wide. Anastomoses are not present. Medulla consists of densely packed sclerites separated from cortex by a border space consisting of anastomoses of border canals (Figure 3G).
Polyps are scattered around branches and at right angles.
The tentacles are armed mainly with Josephinae clubs, which have simple tubercles and particularly narrow, mostly smooth peduncles, and are 188-419 μm long.
The polyps and coenenchyma are dark purple in vivo and in the freshly collected holotype specimen,
All sclerites transparent and colorless in transmitted light.
Etymology:
The Latin adjective fasciculata (fascicular) refers to the distinct autozooid clumps of the species.
Literature reference:
www.frontiersin.org
Frontiers in Marine Science
Authors: Yang li, Zifeng Zhan and Kuidong Xu
Morphology and Molecular Phylogenetic Analysis of Deep-Sea Purple Gorgonians (Octocorallia: Victorgorgiidae) from Seamounts in the Tropical Western Pacific, with Description of Three New Species
