First record and range extension of the transversely-dividing azooxanthellate coral Truncatoflabellum mortenseni Cairns and Zibrowius, 1997 (Scleractinia, Flabellidae) in the Persian Gulf, Western Indo-Pacific Ocean

Abdolvahab Maghsoudlou,Fereidoon Owfi,Parisa Alidoost Salimi

doi:10.1186/s41200-021-00203-x

Abstract

In the Persian Gulf, Azooxanthellate Scleractinia remain understudied compared to their symbiotic counterparts. Here, we report the presence of azooxanthellate coral Truncatoflabellum mortenseni (Cairns & Zibrowius, 1997) for the first time in Iranian deep waters. This species was found on soft sediments at depths of 83 and 101 m. Given this report, the distribution range of T. mortenseni, previously known to exist only in the Indonesian-Philippine regions, is now expanded to the Persian Gulf.

Highlights

Taxonomically, members of the azooxanthellate Scleractinia occur in 14 families (Cairns and Zibrowius 1997, Cairns 2007), and those ones occurring in deep waters (> 50 m), are referred to as cold-water or deep-sea corals (Cairns 2007)
The present study reports the first record of free-living coral Truncatoflabellum mortenseni from deep water of the Persian Gulf
Materials and methods In May 2019 a scientific expedition was performed by the “Iranian National Institute for Oceanography and Atmospheric Science” (INIOAS)

Summary

Introduction

Members of the azooxanthellate Scleractinia occur in 14 families (Cairns and Zibrowius 1997, Cairns 2007), and those ones occurring in deep waters (> 50 m), are referred to as cold-water or deep-sea corals (Cairns 2007). Among these families, the Caryophylliidae is the largest family, followed by the Dendrophylliidae, Flabellidae, and the Turbinoliidae (Cairns 2007). The family Flabellidae Bourne, 1905 is comprised 10 genera, all of which are exclusively solitary and are widely distributed at depths ranging from shallow waters to 3200 m (Cairns 1999, Cairns 2007).

Materials and methods

Result

Discussion

Conclusion