First record of Viminella sp. (Anthozoa: Alcyonacea: Ellisellidae) in the Persian Gulf

By

Shahbazi, Shemshad
Sakhaei, Nasrin
Zolgharnein, Hossein
McFadden, Catherine

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2019-06-18

Original Publication

Biodiversity data journal

Volume

7

Pages

1--2

Subjects

gorgonian , Hengam Island , Iranian waters , Octocorallia , Sclerite

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia Pensoft Publishers [2013]-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.7.e33089
eLocator: e33089

 

Abstract

This paper presents the first record ofViminellaGray 1870 from the Persian Gulf. This genus has a global distribution and its largest distribution is in the Indo-Pacific region. A single specimen was collected by a local fisherman from south Hengam Island (the north Persian Gulf) from 60-70 m depth. Colony morphology characteristics were examined by stereomicroscope and optical microscope. Descriptions of the colony and other taxonomic characteristics are provided. The colony is unbranched with a height of 12 cm and its basal diameter is approximately 1.63 mm. The sclerites of the coenenchyme comprise a variety of symmetrical double heads and capstan-like forms (0.05-0.11 mm). In the wall of calyces, slightly elongated double heads, capstans and spindles (about 0.08-0.19 mm) are present. Our finding extends the known geographical distribution of this genus in the Indo-Pacific region to the Persian Gulf.