Description of a new and widely distributed species of Bathypathes (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Antipatharia: Schizopathidae) previously misidentified as Bathypathes alternata Brook, 1889.

ABSTRACT: For many years an undescribed species of the genus Bathypathes has been misidentified as Bathypathes alternata Brook, 1889 (a species currently re-assigned to the genus Alternatipathes). This new species is rather common at mid- and lower bathyal depths of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans, often in areas with high concentrations of commercially valuable cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts, where it was observed in underwater photo and video transects to occur in high densities. Under the name B. alternata this species is recorded in several inventories and databases. There is an urgent need for a formal description of this misidentified and widely distributed species to avoid further confusion. The new species is superficially similar to A. alternata

SUBMITTER: Molodtsova TN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8833236 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature