Two new species of Antarctic gorgonians (Octocorallia: Primnoidae) with a redescription of Versluys, 1906

Rebeca Zapata-Guardiola (1) , Pablo J. López-González (1)

1 Departamento de Fisiología y Zoología, Facultad de Biología

Two new species of the genus from Antarctic waters are described and illustrated from material collected on the Polarstern cruises ANT XVII/3 (EASIZ III), ANT XIX/5 (LAMPOS) and ANT XXI/2 (BENDEX). On the one hand, sp. nov. is placed in the subgenus due to the characteristic ornamentation of its marginal scales (the previously most recent species in this group was included by Kükenthal in Zool Anz 33(1): 9–20, 1908). On the other hand, sp. nov. is included in subgenus among the 14 species currently recognised, the main distinct feature being tiny polyps. Furthermore, a complete redescription is given of Versluys, 1906. Using the new technology available nowadays, such as images obtained with SEM, we provide accurate images of the polyps and sclerites. In addition, as a result of this study, and its closest congener Versluys, 1906 are maintained as separate species, mainly due to their internal sculpture of body and coenenchymal scales.

Mots clés: Cnidaria; Octocorallia; Primnoidae; Antarctica; New species

Rebeca Zapata-Guardiola, Pablo J. López-González. Two new species of Antarctic gorgonians (Octocorallia: Primnoidae) with a redescription of Versluys, 1906. Helgoland Marine Research, 2009, 64 (3), pp.169-180. ⟨10.1007/s10152-009-0176-5⟩. ⟨hal-00529004⟩