Two new species of Antarctic gorgonians (Octocorallia: Primnoidae) with a redescription of Thouarella laxa Versluys, 1906

Two new species of the genus Thouarella from Antarctic waters are described and illustrated from material collected on the Polarstern cruises ANT XVII/3 (EASIZ III), ANT XIX/5 (LAMPOS) and ANT XXI/2 (BENDEX). On the one hand, Thouarella viridis sp. nov. is placed in the subgenus Epithouarella due to the characteristic ornamentation of its marginal scales (the previously most recent species in this group was included by Ku¨kenthal in Zool Anz 33(1): 9–20, 1908). On the other hand, Thouarella minuta sp. nov. is included in subgenus Thouarella among the 14 species currently recognised, the main distinct feature being tiny polyps. Furthermore, a complete redescription is given of Thouarella laxa Versluys, 1906. Using the new technology available nowadays, such as images obtained with SEM, we provide accurate images of the polyps and sclerites. In addition, as a result of this study, T. laxa and its closest congener T. tydemani Versluys, 1906 are maintained as separate species, mainly due to their internal sculpture of body and coenenchymal scales

Four new species of thouarella (anthozoa: octocorallia: primnoidae) from antarctic waters

Four new Antarctic species of the genus Thouarella, all of them belonging to the subgenus Thouarella, are described and illustrated from material collected at the South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, and off Atka Bay (eastern Weddell Sea) on the Polarstern cruises ANT XIX/5 (LAMPOS), and ANT XXIV/2 (ANDEEP-SYSTCO). The study of our new taxa allows us to describe a wider variation in the number of the distal cycles of polyp scales, as well as the existence in the genus (and subgenus) of additional species with planar colonial morphologies. The new species are compared with their closest congeners

Revision and redescription of the species previously included in the genus Amphilaphis Studer and Wright in Studer, 1887 (Octocorallia: Primnoidae)

The taxonomy of the primnoid genus Amphilaphis Studer and Wright in Studer, 1887 has been in a confused state for a long time and a revision of the species included in that genus has become a necessity. We have revised and redescribed the species previously included in the genus using up-to-date technology, such as polyp and sclerite images obtained with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). As a result of this study, because the type species of Amphilaphis is actually a Thouarella species, we consider the genus Amphilaphis to be no longer valid. One of the species previously considered in Amphilaphis has a set of morphological characters that are not recognizable in any of the current primnoid genera. Primnocapsa n. gen. has a dichotomous branching pattern, polyps placed singly, in spirals around the branchlets, 8 opercular scales with the inner surface keeled and with 2 mounds basally and 8 marginal scales offset from the operculars. The new genus is described and illustrated. Moreover, one of the re-examined species has been included in a new subgenus, Faxiella n. subgen. of Plumarella Gray, 1870 because it has polyps placed in pairs. Finally, the remaining re-examined species have been included in the genus Thouarella Gray, 1870, one of the most specious primnoid genera

Life in extreme conditions : the paradox of Antarctic marine biodiversity

The study of pristine places is very important for learning about the state of the oceans before the impact of human beings. Due to the extreme environmental conditions of the Antarctic continental shelf ? its distance from other continents, depth, and the weight of the continental ice ? it offers us a great opportunity to better understand how a pristine ecosystem would normally be. In addition to a high level of biodiversity, Antarctic benthic organisms present patterns of demographic and spatial distribution that are different from the communities of the continental shelves in other seas and oceans of the world. This makes Antarctic benthic communities look, more than one might think, like the communities with the highest known biodiversity in the world

Pristine populations of habitat-forming gorgonian species on the Antarctic continental shelf

Declines in the abundance of long-lived and habitat-forming species on continental shelves have attracted particular attention given their importance to ecosystem structure and function of marine habitats. The study of undisturbed habitats defined as “pristine areas” is essential in creating a frame of reference for natural habitats free of human interference. Gorgonian species are one of the key structure-forming taxa in benthic communities on the Antarctic continental shelf. Current knowledge of the diversity, distribution and demography of this group is relatively limited in Antarctica. To overcome this lack of information we present original data on pristine and remote populations of gorgonians from the Weddell Sea, some of which display the largest colony sizes ever recorded in Antarctica. We assessed the distribution patterns of seven gorgonian species, a morphogroup and a family in front of the Filchner Ronne Ice Shelf (Weddell Sea) by means of quantitative analysis of video transects. Analysis of these videos showed a total of 3140 colonies of gorgonians with the highest abundance in the southern section and a significantly clumped distribution. This study contributes to the general knowledge of pristine areas of the continental shelf and identifies the eastern Weddell Sea as a hotspot for habitat-forming species

Joc de Terra o de Mar

Registro de la Propiedad Intelectual: Acta 7009 del Notario Pedro Antonio Mateo Salgado en Madrid. Documento, folio EK 3674025.-- El juego se compone de 133 imágenes del medio terrestre y 133 del medio marino y de una Guía explicativa de cada pareja de imágenes. Estas imágenes las hemos agrupado según cuatro niveles de dificultad, los dos primeros pensado en educación primaria y los dos segundos en educación secundaria, pero todos son para el público en general[EN] Aware that only knowledge will help create a widespread opinion about conserving the sea, as part of the “The Sea in Depth” project we have created an original and different way of helping people discover more about the ocean. This new approach is based on encouraging imaginations and observation skills by focusing on what we can see and observe on land and “imagining” what we would see in the ocean if we dived into it. As the terrestrial beings we are, we cannot enter the marine environment without the help of technology, a technology that is currently available to only a handful of people. However, analogies and similarities between the land and the sea can help us explore the ocean, indirectly but effectively, without actually being in them. The game we have created aims to help people indirectly discover and explore the ocean, in a comprehensible and educational way, based on seeking analogies and similarities between what we observe in our surroundings and their equivalence in the sea. To this aim, we have selected images of organisms, environmental phenomena, behaviors, processes, landscapes and relationships between organisms in air or land environments, which must be paired with their “marine” equivalent. The explanation of the equivalence for each pair is included in the teaching guide provided with the game[ES] Conscientes de que solo el conocimiento ayudará a hacer surgir una opinión generalizada de que hay que conservar el mar, en el marco del proyecto «El mar a fondo» hemos buscado una manera diferente y original de ayudar al público a conocer mejor el océano. Esta nueva aproximación se basa en incentivar la imaginación y la capacidad de observación de las personas, de forma que planteamos que, a partir de lo que podemos ver y observar en tierra, nos podemos «imaginar» cómo es lo que veríamos en los océanos si nos sumergiéramos. Como animales terrestres que somos, no podemos penetrar en el medio marino si no es con la ayuda de la tecnología, una tecnología que actualmente es accesible a muy pocas personas. En cambio, las analogías y similitudes entre tierra y mar nos pueden ayudar a explorar, de manera indirecta pero eficaz, el océano sin tener que adentrarnos en él. El juego que os proponemos tiene como objetivo descubrir y explorar el océano de forma indirecta, pero a la vez comprensible y didáctica, a partir de buscar la analogía, la similitud o el parecido entre lo que observamos en nuestro entorno terrestre y su equivalencia en el mar. Para conseguir este objetivo, hemos elegido un conjunto de imágenes de organismos, fenómenos ambientales, comportamientos, procesos, paisajes y relaciones entre organismos y medio correspondientes al medio aéreo o terrestre, de las cuales se tiene que encontrar la pareja «marina». La explicación de la equivalencia de cada pareja se encuentra en esta guía didáctica que ofrecemos con el juego[CAT] Conscients que només el coneixement ajudarà a fer sorgir l’opinió generalitzada que cal conservar el mar, en el marc del projecte «El mar a fons» hem buscat una manera diferent i original d’ajudar el públic a conèixer millor l’oceà. Aquesta nova aproximació es basa a incentivar la imaginació i la capacitat d’observació de les persones, de manera que plantegem que, a partir del que podem veure i observar a terra, ens podem «imaginar» com és el que veuríem a l’oceà si ens hi submergíssim. Com a animals terrestres que som, no podem penetrar en el medi marí si no és amb l’ajuda de la tecnologia, una tecnologia que actualment és accessible a ben poques persones. En canvi, les analogies i similituds entre terra i mar ens poden ajudar a explorar de manera indirecta però eficaç l’oceà sense haver d’endinsar-nos-hi. El joc que us proposem té com a objectiu descobrir i explorar l’oceà de manera indirecta, però alhora entenedora i didàctica, a partir de la cerca de l’analogia, la similitud o la semblança entre allò que observem al nostre entorn terrestre i la seva equivalència al mar. Per aconseguir aquest objectiu, hem triat un conjunt d’imatges d’organismes, fenòmens ambientals, comportaments, processos, paisatges i relacions entre organismes i medi corresponents al medi aeri o terrestre, a les quals s’ha de trobar la parella «marina». L’explicació de l’equivalència de cada parella es troba en aquesta guia didàctica que oferim amb el jocPeer reviewe

Thouarella brucei Thomson and Ritchie 1906

<i>Thouarella brucei</i> Thomson and Ritchie, 1906 <p>Figures 2–6</p> <p> <i>Thouarella brucei</i> Thomson and Ritchie, 1906: 852 –854, pl. 1, fig.1, pl. 2, fig. 1.; Kükenthal, 1919: 439; 1924: 301. not <i>Thouarella brucei</i>, Broch, 1965: 27 –28, pl. 4, figs. 11–13.</p> <p> <b>Material examined. Lectotype</b> (here designated): NMS.Z.1921.143.1298 “Scottish Antarctic Expedition (1902-1904), Burdwood Bank, Gough Island (St. Helena)”, one colony. <b>Paralectotypes</b> (here designated): NMS.Z.2010.038.1 and BM 1912.11.9.2, Scottish Antarctic Expedition (1902-1904), stn. 346, 54º25’S, 57º32’W, Burdwood Bank, 102.4 m depth, 1 December 1903, one colony each; NMS.Z.2010.038.2, same data as in the lectotype; ZMA COEL 3574, Scottish Antarctic Expedition (1902-1904), South Atlantic Ocean, fragment of a colony. <b>Additional material</b>: ZMH C11748, ANT XIX/5, stn PS61/167-01, 53º23.68’S, 42º42.23’W, west of South Georgia Island, 308.1–334.5 m depth, 9 April 2002, five fragments.</p> <p> <b>Description of the lectotype</b>. The specimen is only a fragment of the parent colony (Figure 2 A), 11 cm in total height and about 8.6 cm in width. Main stem ramified up to third order giving simple branchlets (Figure 2 B) up to 2 cm in length, distributed all around, up to 8 branchlets per centimetre. Axis brown, broken at its proximal portion, without holdfast. Basal axis diameter 2.8 mm.</p> <p>Individual polyps (Figure 2 B) slightly bent upward and arranged in spirals around branchlets; 10–12 polyps per cm. Polyps also present on main stem. Polyps (Figure 3) clavate, about 1.5–2.1 mm in height and 0.6–0.8 mm in diameter with a low operculum. Polyp body with 8 longitudinal rows of scales overlapping one another, 4–5 scales on each longitudinal abaxial row (Figure 3 A) and 3 scales on each adaxial row (Figure 3 B).</p> <p>Opercular scales (Figure 4, 5A), 0.38–0.66 mm in height and 0.23–0.50 mm in width, arranged in two cycles of four: inner cycle concave isosceles-shaped with bilobed base and rounded tip with an incipient keel; outer cycle larger, isosceles-triangle-shaped with distal inner surface multi-keeled. Proximal inner surface tuberculate, covering about half of their length. Outer surface radially granular. Basal margin irregular. Free margin finely serrated.</p> <p>Marginal scales (Figure 5B) eight in number, 0.41–0.66 mm in height and 0.47–0.54 mm in width, roughly rhomboidal in shape with a complex tip; adaxials reduced. Inner proximal surface tuberculate, covering about half of their length, distal surface smooth with medial process multi-keeled. Outer surface granular. Basal margin with small granular processes, free margin finely serrated.</p> <p>Body scales (Figure 6 A) irregular-fan shaped, 0.28–0.49 mm in height and 0.32–0.50 mm in width. Inner surface almost completely tuberculate, upper body scales with short keel. Outer surface granular. Free margin finely serrated.</p> <p>Coenenchymal scales (Figure 6 B) roughly round to oval-shaped, 0.14–0.43 mm in maximum length; inner surface tuberculate, outer surface granulate forming ridges, free margin irregular.</p> <p> <b>Geographic and bathymetric distribution.</b> The species is known from Burdwood Bank and Gough Island (Saint Helena), SubAntarctic, and from west of South Georgia Island, (Figure 1), between 100 and 334.5 m in depth.</p> <p> <b>Variability.</b> The paralectotypes and the additional material examined have a similar bottlebrush colonial structure to that of the lectotype. The main stem can be unbranched or ramified up to third order. The polyps have a wider range in size, from 1.3 to 2.4 mm in height and from 0.46 to 0.84 mm in diameter. The opercular scales can vary from 0.28 to 0.77 mm in height and from 0.10 to 0.50 mm in width. The marginal scales vary from 0.42 to 0.78 mm in height and from 0.34 to 0.58 mm in width. The body scales vary from 0.24 to 0.54 mm in height and from 0.28 to 0.67 mm in width. The coenenchymal scales vary from 0.06 to 0.46 mm in maximum length. Distribution and form of the sclerites from polyps and coenenchyme are similar to that of the lectotype.</p> <p> <i>Thouarella brucei</i> Thomson and Ritchie, 1906, lectotype (NMS.Z.1921.143.1298):, opercular scales; <b>B</b>,</p> <p>marginal scales. ∗ inner surface view.</p> <p> <b>Remarks.</b> Thomson and Ritchie (1906) described <i>Thouarella brucei</i> from the material collected during the Scottish Antarctic Expedition. The original description refers to specimens from different localities “Burdwood Bank, 56 fathoms, December 1, 1903; Gough Island, 100 fathoms, April 22, 1904; St. Helena ”. However, they did not associate the specimens described with the localities. Due to this lack of information in the original description, on the label of the specimens and also in database of the NMS (Fiona Ware pers. comm.), we cannot determine the exact collection locality of the lectotype and some paralectotypes. However, the presence of this species at Burdwood Bank is assured from the data for the paralectotypes NMS.Z.2010.038.1 and BM 1912.11.9.2.</p> <p> After this study, the only known material recognised for <i>Thouarella brucei</i> will be restricted to the specimens described in the original description and the additional material from west South Georgia here reported. However, several specimens from Smithsonian’s collection will be attributable to this species in the near future, increasing our knowledge of the geographic and bathymetric distribution of this species (Taylor <i>et al</i>. submitted). Broch (1965: 27) reported an additional colony from Burdwood Bank, but the examination of the specimen has shown it should no longer be considered as <i>Thouarella brucei</i> (see remarks on <i>Digitogorgia brochi</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> in this paper).</p> <p> It should be noted that Kükenthal (1919: 439) mentioned that Thomson and Ritchie could have confused the opercular scales with the marginal scales and also had doubts about the number of the “opercular” scales reported. Furthermore he emphasised the lack of measurements and pictures of polyps, later classifying <i>T. brucei</i> as species <i>dubiae incertae sedis</i> (Kükenthal, 1924: 301).</p> <p> One of the characters used to differentiate <i>Thouarella</i> species (Kükenthal, 1924; Cairns and Bayer, 2009) is the number of scales in the longitudinal abaxial row. <i>T. brucei</i> shows 4–5 scales in the abaxial row, being comparable to <i>T. pendulina</i> (Roule, 1908), <i>T. versluysi</i> Kükenthal, 1907 and <i>T. hickson</i> i Thomson, 1911. A useful character to differentiate those species is the number of polyps per centimetre present on the branchlets. While polyps of <i>Thouarella brucei</i> have an arrangement of about 12 polyps per centimetre, polyps of <i>T. pendulina</i> have a very crowded arrangement, up to 70 polyps per centimetre (Roule, 1908). There are only up to 4–5 polyps per centimetre in <i>T. versluysi</i> (Kükenthal, 1907: 202) and even fewer in <i>T. hicksoni</i> (Thomson, 1911: 886).</p> <p>The examination of the type material has allowed us to give a more accurate diagnosis of the species wherein the polyp scales are shown in more detail than in the original description and some initial ranges of variability observed by Thomson and Ritchie have been increased.</p>Published as part of <i>Zapata-Guardiola, Rebeca & López-González, Pablo J., 2010, Redescription of Thouarella brucei Thomson and Ritchie, 1906 (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Primnoidae) and description of two new Antarctic primnoid species, pp. 48-68 in Zootaxa 2616</i> on pages 50-56, DOI: <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/197916">10.5281/zenodo.197916</a&gt

Digitogorgia brochi Zapata-Guardiola & López-González, 2010, sp. nov.

Digitogorgia brochi sp. nov. Figures 8–12 Thouarella (Euthouarella) brucei, Broch, 1965: 27 –28, pl. 4, fig. 11–13. Material examined. Holotype: NHM B 969, “Brategg” Expedition, “Tromso-Tral 2 ”, 54 º 43 ’S, 60 º 14 ’W, Burdwood Bank, SubAntarctic, 111.5 m depth, 0 9 March 1948. Description of the holotype. Fragment of a colony (Figure 8 A), probably a main side branch, of 16 cm in total height and about 4.5 cm in width, with simple branchlets (Figure 8 B) up to 3cm in length arising all around the branch forming a bottlebrush shape. Axis brown. Main side branch basal axis diameter 2.3 mm. Main stem basal axis diameter 2.9 mm. Polyps (Figure 9) on branchlets in whorls of 3, 4– 5 whorls per cm, directed upwards. Polyps relatively elongate, slightly clavate, about 1.6–2.2 mm in height and 0.6–0.8 mm in diameter. Polyp body with eight complete longitudinal rows of scales, those in adaxial rows slightly smaller. About 6–7 scales in each adaxial row (Figure 10 A) and 12–13 scales on each abaxial row (Figures 9 B, 10 C). Adaxial rows slightly disorganized basally, but without any reduction in number of rows (Figure 9). Accessory operculars (Figure 11 A) eight in number, 0.25–0.44 mm in height and 0.08–0.14 mm in width, more or less triangular and pointed. Proximal inner surface tuberculate, covering about 20–50 % of their length, distal inner surface smooth. Outer surface quite granular with several warts on the most proximal portion. Basal margin with digitate processes. Opercular scales (Figure 11 B) eight in number, 0.30–0.45 mm in height and 0.16–0.24 mm in width, more or less triangular or oval shaped. Proximal inner surface tuberculate, covering around half of their length, distal surface smooth without keel or thorn. Proximal outer surface granular with several warts on the most proximal part, distal portion quite smooth. Basal margin often with long digitate processes, free margin entire laterally but digitate apically. Marginal scales (Figure 11 C) eight in number, 0.33–0.43 mm in height and 0.23–0.46 mm in width, broad, oval shaped. Proximal inner surface tuberculate, covering up to 80 % of the length, distal inner surface smooth, without keel or thorn. Outer surface granular, most proximal part with several warts. Basal margin with long digitate processes, free margin entire laterally but digitate apically. Body scales (Figure 12 A) more-or-less oval to fan shape, 0.17–0.37 mm in height and 0.26–0.45 mm in width. Inner surface almost completely tuberculate, outer surface granular with several warts on the most proximal part. Free margin as in marginal scales. Coenenchymal sclerites (Figure 12 B) in two layers: outer layer with round, oval-shaped sclerites, 0.11– 0.24 mm in maximum length, inner surface tuberculate, outer surface granular or smooth, free margin entire or scalloped; inner layer with irregular tuberculate sclerites, 0.06–0.08 mm in maximum length. Geographic and bathymetric distribution. At present, Digitogorgia brochi sp. nov., has only been reported from Burdwood Bank, SubAntarctic (Figure 1), at a depth of 111.5 m. Etymology. This species is dedicated to Hjalmar Broch, in recognition of his contribution to our knowledge of octocorals. Remarks. The present material was initially identified by Broch (1965) as Thouarella brucei. This author had already found differences in the shape of the opercular and marginal scales between his specimen and the original description of Thomson’s and Ritchie’s species. Nevertheless, he attributed those differences to a possible contamination in Thomson’s and Ritchie’s sample, and placed his specimen in T. brucei. But it seems that Broch never saw any type specimens of T. brucei, as he only mentions the original description and drawings. The present study of a single specimen identified by Broch as Thouarella brucei from Burdwood Bank, and deposited at the NHM, shows a set of characters that is clearly different from that of the type material of T. brucei. This set of characters is: the polyps are arranged in whorls of three, the number of scales on each abaxial row is about 12 and distinct opercular and marginal scales are without a keel, while in T. brucei the polyps are singly placed in spirals around branchlets, the number of scales on each abaxial row is about 5 and opercular and marginal scales present a strong keel on their inner surface. Broch’s specimen, described above, has a bottlebrush colony shape, the scales are not reduced in the adaxial rows, there are eight marginal scales, without a keel, folding over the operculars and there are distinct, distal, pointed processes in opercular, marginal and body scales. Due to these characters it should be included in the genus Digitogorgia, as Digitogorgia brochi sp. nov. Till now the genus Digitogorgia only included one species, Digitogorgia kuekenthali. Digitogorgia kuekenthali and D. brochi differ in the number of scales in the abaxial row (8-9 scales in the former and 12-13 in the later), in the shape of the accessory opercular scales (more pointed in the former), the operculars (more elongate and multi-digitate in the former), and the marginals (with more developed and pointed processes in the latter). In general, the proximal, long processes in both polyp and coenenchymal sclerites and the presence of tubercles on the proximal outer surface are more pronounced in D. brochi.Published as part of Zapata-Guardiola, Rebeca & López-González, Pablo J., 2010, Redescription of Thouarella brucei Thomson and Ritchie, 1906 (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Primnoidae) and description of two new Antarctic primnoid species, pp. 48-68 in Zootaxa 2616 on pages 57-63, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.19791

Digitogorgia Zapata-Guardiola and Lopez-Gonzalez 2010

Genus Digitogorgia Zapata-Guardiola and López-González, 2010 Diagnosis (modified from the original description, modifications in bold). Primnoidae with bottlebrush colonies and simple branchlets. Polyps elongated, cylindrical, markedly curved upwards to the branch, and arranged in whorls. Accessory operculars eight in number, stick shaped, close to eight operculars. Marginal scales without thorn or keel, eight in number, folding over operculars. Opercular and marginal scales, with pointed digitations distally, attenuated in body scales. Body scales in eight complete longitudinal rows. Coenenchyme with two layers: outer layer of oval shaped scales, inner layer with irregular tuberculate sclerites. Remarks on diagnosis. During the study of Digitogorgia brochi sp. nov. we observed the presence of an additional inner layer of irregular tuberculate coenenchymal sclerites. Coenenchymal sclerites were described as a single layer of scales in the type species D. kuekenthali Zapata-Guardiola and López-González, 2010. After a re-examination of the coenenchyme of the holotype ZIZMH C 11740 and paratype USNM 1128575 (2 fragments as BEIM-CRO- 30 in Zapata-Guardiola and López-González, 2010 b: 317) of D. kuekenthali, an inner layer of irregular tuberculate sclerites (Figure 7) was also observed.Published as part of Zapata-Guardiola, Rebeca & López-González, Pablo J., 2010, Redescription of Thouarella brucei Thomson and Ritchie, 1906 (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Primnoidae) and description of two new Antarctic primnoid species, pp. 48-68 in Zootaxa 2616 on pages 56-57, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.19791

Tokoprymno anatis Zapata-Guardiola & López-González, 2010, sp. nov.

<i>Tokoprymno anatis</i> sp. nov. <p>Figures 13–16</p> <p> <b>Material examined. Holotype:</b> ZMH C11749, ANT XIX/3, stn PS61/046-08, 60°38.79'S, 53°57.42'W, north east of Elephant Island, Antarctica, 2895.6–2896.4 m depth, 2 February 2002, one colony, fragmented. Fragments of the holotype have also been deposited in USNM 1145316.</p> <p> <b>Description of the holotype</b>. Colony bottlebrush (Figure 13 A), fragmented in three main parts of 5, 7 and 9.5 cm in length, 22 cm in total length and 10.5 cm in width. Simple or scarcely ramified stiff branchlets (Figure 13 B) up to 6.5 cm in length, proximally almost perpendicular to stem, then curving upward. Axis bronze, stiff, broken proximally. Basal axis diameter 3 mm.</p> <p>Polyps perpendicular to branchlets (Figure 13 B, 14A), absent on main stem, singly or biserial placed (Figure 14 A), 6–11 polyps per cm. Polyps (Figure 14) relatively elongate, slightly clavate, up to 2.4 mm in height and 0.61–0.97 mm in diameter, with a conical operculum. Polyp body with 8 longitudinal rows of scales somewhat disorganized, adaxial body scales smaller (Figure 14 B), 4–5 transverse rows of scales in the abaxial aspect overlapping one another (Figure 14 C).</p> <p>Accessory opercular scales (Figure 15 A), blade-shaped, variable in number from absent to two, small, about 0.49 mm in height and 0.12 mm in width. Proximal half of inner surface tuberculate, smooth distally, without keel. Margin finely serrated. Outer surface almost smooth, few granules.</p> <p>Opercular scales (Figure 15 B) eight in number, 0.58–0.84 mm in height and 0.15–0.28 mm in width, duck-beak shaped with rounded tips and square or bilobed base. Proximal inner surface tuberculate covering up to half of their length; distal part convex, with granules forming ridges or with a small keel. Outer surface almost smooth with a few granules proximally. Free margin serrated.</p> <p>Marginal scales (Figure 15 C) eight in number, more-or-less triangular, 0.52–0.91 mm in height and 0.27– 0.44 mm in width. Inner surface tuberculate covering at least 75% of the scale, with distal longitudinal ridges. Outer surface almost smooth, with a few granules on proximal portion. Free margin serrated, proximal margin granular and lobed.</p> <p>Body wall scales (Figure 16 A) roughly square shaped, 0.36–0.61 mm in maximum length. Inner surface almost completely tuberculate, outer surface almost smooth and covered with granules proximally. Free margin serrated with tendency to be lobed, basal margin as in marginal scales.</p> <p>Coenenchyme scales (Figure 16 B) round in shape, 0.18–0.34 mm in maximum length. Inner surface completely tuberculate, outer surface smooth with a few granules. Margin quite smooth, granulate or finely serrated.</p> <p> <b>Geographic and bathymetric distribution.</b> At present, <i>Tokoprymno anatis</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> is only known from off Elephant Island, Antarctica (Figure 1), between 2895.6 and 2896.4 m in depth.</p> <p> <b>Etymology</b>. The species name <i>anatis</i>, derived from the Latin and meaning duck-like, refers to the distinct shape of the opercular scales for their similarity to the beak of a duck.</p> <p> <b>Remarks.</b> According to Cairn’s and Bayer's (2009) generic review of the gorgonian family Primnoidae, the new taxon is included in the genus <i>Tokoprymno</i> Bayer, 1996 due to: (1) the presence of marginal scales of polyps not forming a circumoperculum (Figure 14), (2) the presence of an abundantly branched colony giving a bottlebrush shape (Figure 13 A), (3) the fact that the polyps are often arranged biserially (Figure 13 B, 14A), and (4) the opercular scales having a small keel on their inner surface. However, some species in the genus <i>Thouarella</i> also have a bottlebrush colony shape, polyps arranged singly, and the presence of a keel on the opercular scales. In <i>Thouarella,</i> however, the marginals fold over the bases of the operculars forming a circumoperculum. In fact, this character is used to segregate both genera in Cairn’s and Bayer’s key.</p> <p> Also according to Cairns and Bayer (2009), the genera <i>Plumarella</i> Gray, 1870 and <i>Acanthoprimnoa</i> Cairns and Bayer, 2004 are morphologically closely related to the genus <i>Tokoprymno</i>. They can be distinguished, however, by the absence of a keel on the opercular scales, as well as their uniplanar colony shape (Gray, 1870; Cairns & Bayer, 2004), while <i>Tokoprymno</i> has a keel on the operculars (Figure 14 B) and a bottlebrush colony shape (Figure 13 A).</p> <p> The genus <i>Tokoprymno</i> has currently only one described species, <i>Tokoprymno maia</i> Bayer, 1996. This species is clearly differentiated from <i>T. anatis</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> by the size of the polyps, from 3 to 5 mm in the former (Bayer, 1996: 514) depending on the kind of polyp (vegetative or brooder) and up to 2.4 mm in the latter; and by the distinct duck-beak shape of the opercular scales in <i>T. anatis</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> (Figure 15 A), while in <i>T. maia</i> the operculars are isosceles triangle shaped (see Figure 4 in Bayer, 1996) and for the absence of accesory opercular scales in <i>T. maia</i>.</p>Published as part of <i>Zapata-Guardiola, Rebeca & López-González, Pablo J., 2010, Redescription of Thouarella brucei Thomson and Ritchie, 1906 (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Primnoidae) and description of two new Antarctic primnoid species, pp. 48-68 in Zootaxa 2616</i> on pages 63-66, DOI: <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/197916">10.5281/zenodo.197916</a&gt