Abstract
An illustrated checklist of the Mollusca of Galicia Bank, a large and deep seamount off the NW Iberian Peninsula, is provided. The studied material was collected in 8 samples of Seamount 1 cruise (1987), 7 samples of ECOMARG 0709 (2009) and 36 samples of BANGAL 0711 (2011), between 615 and 1768 m. A total of 212 species are known to occur at the Galicia Bank (1 Monoplacophora, 7 Solenogastres, 3 Polyplacophora, 132 Gastropoda, 54 Bivalvia, 6 Scaphopoda, and 9 Cephalopoda), 21 of which from previous studies only. Four species are described as new, 34 species are first record in Spanish waters and another 20 species first record for the Northern Spanish waters. Over 7500 specimens, representing 104 species, were collected alive, and 87 species were represented by empty shells only. Only 53 species were detected in both Seamount 1 and BANGAL 0711; most of the species are rare and more species can be expected if exploration is continued. There is a marked difference in species composition between the summit platform (615‒1000 m) and the deeper part below 1500 m, with some genera (e.g., Colus and Limopsis) represented by alternative species. Endemism, if any, is very low and most of the species are widespread.
Highlights
Seamounts, such as Galicia Bank, are habitats of special interest due to their peculiar hydrological and sedimentary dynamics, and the fact that they harbour extensive hard substrate outcrops in deep-sea areas where soft substrates are usually prevalent (Wilson & Kaufmann 1987; Rogers 1994, 2018; Wessel 2007)
According to the official OSPAR database, 104 seamounts are within its area of competence, 74 of them located within the national Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ) and only 30 in the High Seas (OSPAR Commission 2010)
Four species (Anatoma corralae Gofas & Luque sp. nov., Anekes spiralis Gofas & Luque sp. nov., Ringicula crassidens Gofas & Luque sp. nov., Acteocina interrogens Gofas & Luque sp. nov.) are deemed new to science and described below, 34 species are recorded for the first time in Spanish waters (Table 2), of which 6 species were already stated as such by Gofas et al (2017) based on the preliminary study of this material and thereby already included in the official list of marine organisms present in Spain, released in 2017
Summary
Seamounts, such as Galicia Bank, are habitats of special interest due to their peculiar hydrological and sedimentary dynamics, and the fact that they harbour extensive hard substrate outcrops in deep-sea areas where soft substrates are usually prevalent (Wilson & Kaufmann 1987; Rogers 1994, 2018; Wessel 2007). Seamounts are defined as undersea topographic elements that rise more than 1000 meters above the surrounding seafloor, but currently there is a trend to use this term for reliefs of lesser elevation (Staudigel et al 2010; Vázquez et al 2015; Rogers 2018). According to the official OSPAR database, 104 seamounts are within its area of competence, 74 of them located within the national Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ) and only 30 in the High Seas (OSPAR Commission 2010). A total of 46 main seamounts are located along the Iberian margins (Vázquez et al 2015)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
