Published June 18, 2019 | Version v1

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

  • 1. Department of Marine Biology, Khorramshahr University of Marine Science and Technology, Khorramshahr, Iran
  • 2. 1Department of Marine Biology, Khorramshahr University of Marine Science and Technology, Khorramshahr, Iran
  • 3. Department of Biology, Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, CA, United States of America

Description

This paper presents the first record of Viminella Gray 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.

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