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An exceptional occurrence of Cavernularia pusilla (Anthozoa: Pennatulacea) off the Basque coast (south-east Bay of Biscay, north-eastern Atlantic)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 February 2009

Alvaro Altuna ,
Florencio Aguirrezabalaga  and
Julián Martínez
Alvaro Altuna*
Affiliation:
INSUB, Zemoria 12, Apdo. 3223, 20013 San Sebastián, Spain
Florencio Aguirrezabalaga
Affiliation:
INSUB, Zemoria 12, Apdo. 3223, 20013 San Sebastián, Spain
Julián Martínez
Affiliation:
INSUB, Zemoria 12, Apdo. 3223, 20013 San Sebastián, Spain
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Alvaro Altuna, INSUB, Zemoria 12, Apdo. 3223, 20013 San Sebastián, Spain email: [email protected]
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Abstract

An abundant population of the sea pen Cavernularia pusilla (Anthozoa: Pennatulacea), with up to 70 colonies m−2, has been found on soft bottoms off the Basque coast (south-east Bay of Biscay, north-east Atlantic). This species spreads in an area of several kilometres length, and its bathymetric distribution ranges between 35 and 85 m depth, reaching its highest densities at 45–55 m. Such a population is remarkable, considering the scarce available records of this species and its southern affinities. The geographic and bathymetric distributions of the species are revised and discussed.

Keywords

AnthozoaPennatulaceaCavernularia pusillaabundanceBay of Biscay
Type
Research Article
Information
Marine Biodiversity Records , Volume 1 , January 2008 , e29
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2006

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