A facies of Kophobelemnon (Cnidaria, Octocorallia) from Santa Maria di Leuca coral province (Mediterranean Sea). (18th April 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mastrototaro, Francesco; Maiorano, Porzia; Vertino, Agostina; Battista, Daniela; Indennidate, Antonella; Savini, Alessandra; Tursi, Angelo; D'Onghia, Gianfranco
• Is Part Of: Marine ecology. Volume 34:Number 3(2013:Sep.)
• Page Start: 313
• Page End: 320
• Publication Date: 2013-04-18
• Subjects: Marine ecology -- Periodicals; 577.705
• DOI: 10.1111/maec.12017
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0173-9565

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en" id="maec12017-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>During a research cruise carried out in April 2010, aimed at updating the knowledge on the biodiversity of the Santa Maria di Leuca (SML) cold‐water coral province (Mediterranean Sea), a <italic>facies</italic> of the sea pen <italic>Kophobelemnon stelliferum</italic> (Muller, 1776) was found on mud‐dominated bottoms. This finding represents a new species and a new habitat record from the SML coral province as well as a new bathyal <italic>facies</italic> in the whole Central Mediterranean Sea. The colonies were collected using an epi‐benthic sledge, at depths between 400 and 470 m. A significant positive relationship between polyp number and colony length was detected. Density of the colonies ranged from 0.003 to 0.038 N·m⁻². Differences and affinities between Mediterranean and Atlantic occurrences of <italic>K. stelliferum</italic> are discussed.</p> </abstract>