Mabuchi and Yafuso 1908

New observation of the sea pen Calibelemnon hinoenma Kushida & Reimer from the east coast of Okinawa Island, the Ryukyus, Japan

Mabuchi I, Yafuso M

scientific article Fauna Ryukyuana
Abstract

We conducted a biosurvey in the mesophotic zone of Oura Bay, Nago, on the east coast of Okinawa Island, the Ryukyus, Japan, since fauna in this zone is not well been known. We found the sea pen species Calibelemnon hinoenma Kushida & Reimer (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Octocorallia: Scleralcyonacea: Pennatuloidea: Scleroptilidae) on the sand and mud sea bottom of this bay at 55-60 m depth. This is the first report of this sea pen from the east coast of Okinawa Island and the second report after its discovery in Amami Oshima and from the west coast of Okinawa Island. This report strongly suggests that Oura Bay has unique fauna in the mesophotic zone in addition to previously found rare organisms in the shallower waters.

Keywords
Metadata (pending validation)
Depth Range
55–60 m
Mesophotic Mentions
4 × (total of 1311 words)
Classification
  • Presents original data
  • Focused on 'mesophotic' depth range
  • Focused on 'mesophotic coral ecosystem'
Fields
Biodiversity