Zootaxa
Info
The gorgonian Adelogorgia hannibalis was found on Hannibal Bank, a coastal guyot-like seamount that rises from about 500 meters to 45 meters and is 50 km from the mainland.
The seamount is relatively protected as part of Coiba National Park and World Heritage Site, and the new species was found on rocky substrate with strong currents.
It is known only from the type locality, Hannibal Bank, from 180 to 200 m depth.
Variability. Colony color varies to lighter shades of orange in some paratypes (STRI 1209, 1212) and branchial thickness reaches up to 3 mm in paratype STRI 1212.
Polyp mounds reach up to 1 mm in STRI 1212.
The paratype series are 7-16.5 cm long. They are all sparsely branched, less so than the holotype, which is the most abundant colony.
The sclerites of the paratypes agree with those of the holotype.
Etymology.
The gorgonian was named after Hannibal Bank and the survey ship USS Hannibal, which probably first discovered and mapped the bank in 1934
The name Hannibal commemorates the Carthaginian general who is considered one of the greatest generals in ancient history.
Remarks. This species is the only one that has colonies with elongated branches and free branches up to 7 cm long.
It also has a characteristic orange colony.
The seamount is relatively protected as part of Coiba National Park and World Heritage Site, and the new species was found on rocky substrate with strong currents.
It is known only from the type locality, Hannibal Bank, from 180 to 200 m depth.
Variability. Colony color varies to lighter shades of orange in some paratypes (STRI 1209, 1212) and branchial thickness reaches up to 3 mm in paratype STRI 1212.
Polyp mounds reach up to 1 mm in STRI 1212.
The paratype series are 7-16.5 cm long. They are all sparsely branched, less so than the holotype, which is the most abundant colony.
The sclerites of the paratypes agree with those of the holotype.
Etymology.
The gorgonian was named after Hannibal Bank and the survey ship USS Hannibal, which probably first discovered and mapped the bank in 1934
The name Hannibal commemorates the Carthaginian general who is considered one of the greatest generals in ancient history.
Remarks. This species is the only one that has colonies with elongated branches and free branches up to 7 cm long.
It also has a characteristic orange colony.
