A New Genus and Species of Bamboo Coral (Octocorallia: Isididae: Keratoisidinae) from the New England Seamounts

Abstract

Sampling along the New England Seamount Chain has produced a large number of new octocoral species, especially of the bamboo corals in the subfamily Keratoisidinae. The new genus described here is unusual in that it branches from the internodes yet has sclerites at the base of the polyp body that are arranged obliquely, and in having tentacles that can be pulled completely into the top of the polyp over the retracted oral disk. The genus and species are characterized using both morphological and molecular data.