Flabellum macandrewi Gray 1849

Flabellum macandrewi Gray, 1849

(Figs. 5 E–G, tables 1−3)

Flabellum macandrewi: Zibrowius 1980: 150, pl. 78, figs. A–L, pl. 107, figs. H–I.—Cairns & Chapman 2001: 36 (tab.1).— Lavaleye et al. 2002: 464.—Brito & Ocaña 2004: 420, pl. 97, figs. A–B.—Reveillaud et al. 2008: 322 (tab. 1), 325 (fig. 4).—Altuna 2010: 21.

Material examined. Le Danois Bank, 2008: Stn. S 1V, 746 m, numerous fragments. Le Danois Bank, 2009: Stn. G 1, 755 m, several fragments; Stn. V 1, 761 m, one specimen and several fragments.

Remarks. The material is formed mostly by small fragments that are 2.0− 2.5 cm in length. The unique complete specimen is regenerated (H= 1.9 cm; GCD= 2.3 cm; LCD= 2.2 cm). The corallum is very light, fragile and delicate. The wall is glossy and slightly pearly, thin, and of pink and purple colour with well developed costae. Some fragments show densely packaged growth marks that are more evident near calicular margin. The calicular margin is irregular, with a succession of crests and valleys, and S1−S2 are highly exsert. The calice has 59 septa that are thin and delicate, with their inner edges sinuous deep in the fossa and with small processes. The ornamentation of the septal faces is poor, and formed by inconspicuous pointed granules loosely packaged. The columella is absent.

Station S 1V is the shallowest for the species in the Bay of Biscay. Flabellum macandrewi was known previously between 750 and 930 m depth (Zibrowius 1980; Lavaleye et al. 2002).

Despite its wide distribution in the Eastern Atlantic, Flabellum macandrewi is uncommon in the Bay of Biscay and nearby areas with only four previous locations, three of them at Le Danois Bank (Zibrowius 1980), and the other one off the north-western Iberian Margin (Lavaleye et al. 2002). It is abundant at the bank, and has been collected in the three ECOMARG surveys in the area.