Benayahu et al. 2017

Search for mesophotic octocorals (Cnidaria, Anthozoa) and their phylogeny. II. A new zooxanthellate species from Eilat, northern Red Sea

Benayahu Y, McFadden CS, Shoham E, van Ofwegen LP

scientific article Zookeys Open Access
Abstract

An octocoral survey conducted in the mesophotic coral ecosystem (MCE) of Eilat (Gulf of Aqaba, northern Red Sea) yielded a new species of the speciose reef-dwelling genus Sinularia. It features encrusting colony morphology with a thin, funnel-shaped polypary. Sinularia mesophotica sp. n. (family Alcyoniidae) is described and compared to the other congeners with similar morphology. Both the morphological and molecular examination justified the establishment of the new species, also assigning it to a new genetic clade within Sinularia. The results highlight its unique phylogenetic position within the genus, and this is the first described species of a mesophotic zooxanthellate octocoral.

Keywords
Metadata (pending validation)
Depth Range
62–62 m
Mesophotic Mentions
34 × (total of 2337 words)
Classification
  • Presents original data
  • Reports new species
  • Focused on 'mesophotic' depth range
  • Focused on 'mesophotic coral ecosystem'
Locations
Israel - Red Sea