“Xenogorgia gen. nov.

 

Diagnosis. — Chrysogorgiids forming colonies in bottle-brush form, the secondary branches arising from the main axis in an irregular manner; branchlets arising from the secondary branches in an irregular lateral manner. Polyps cylindrical, on all sides of branches and branchlets. Axis smooth, translucent, weakly calcified; basal holdfast formed by a small expansion of the trunk.

 

Description. — The main stem, undivided or with one or two strong pri­mary branches, gives rise on all sides to numerous short branches bearing smaller lateral branchlets, resulting in a bottle-brush growth form. Polyps cylindrical, scattered, on all sides of the branches and branchlets. Sclerites in the form of thin, oval scales, often with a slight median constriction, with extremely fine surface texture scarcely visible with the light microscope. Axis smooth, translucent, amber colored in the thicker parts, faintly yel­lowish in the fine branchlets, only weakly calcified; basal attachment a small expansion of the trunk, marginally calcified, fastened to solid objects.

 

Type-species. — Xenogorgia sciurus spec. nov., here designated.

 

Etymology. — From Greek ξένος, strange, foreign + gorgia.”

 

(Bayer & Muzik, 1976)

Depth range based on 6 specimens in 1 taxon.
Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 6 samples.

Environmental ranges
  Depth range (m): 740 - 740
  Temperature range (°C): 4.456 - 4.456
  Nitrate (umol/L): 27.707 - 27.707
  Salinity (PPS): 34.344 - 34.344
  Oxygen (ml/l): 4.835 - 4.835
  Phosphate (umol/l): 2.004 - 2.004
  Silicate (umol/l): 29.122 - 29.122
 
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