A new species of shallow-water sea pen (Octocorallia: Pennatulacea: Kophobelemnidae) from Antarctica

8 pages, 6 figuresThe pennatulacean genus Malacobelemnon has previously been considered to be distributed in the Western Indian and western Pacific Oceans, with one described species and another possible undescribed species from South Africa. An undescribed shallow-water species attributable to this Kophobelemnidae genus has been collected from the Antarctic region (King George, South Shetland Islands). The present paper reports this discovery, providing the description and illustrations of the new species, Malacobelemnon daytoni n. sp. Some of the characters previously considered in the genus Malacobelemnon should be slightly modified to include the new Antarctic species. The general colony shape, the distribution of siphonozooids, number of longitudinal autozooids rows, and the length and shape of the section of axis are the main characters used to distinguish the new species from the other in the genus M. stephensoni Tixier-Durivault 1965. From a bathymetric point of view, Malacobelemnon daytoni n. sp. is one of the shallowest pennatulacean species recorded, being an important contribution to the shallow-water Antarctic faunaWe thank the members of the Jubany Polar station, especially the divers who assisted with the collection of the material examined here. Special thanks are addressed to Ricardo Sahade and Marcos Tatián for their continuous support with material, information and direct observations of the benthic fauna at Potter Cove (King George Island). Guillermo Mercuri (Instituto Antártico Argentino) provided the underwater photograph of a living specimen in Fig. 2. The authors are also thankful for comments and suggestions given by the Editor, Dr. Gary Williams and the two anonymous referees. Mr. Tony Krupa is thanked for reviewing the English versionPeer reviewe