In material from the northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the Reykjanes Ridge, five species of deep-sea mushroom corals belonging to the genera Anthomastus, Heteropolypus and Pseudoanthomastus were found, including three species new to science. The scope and diagnoses of the genera Heteropolypus and Pseudoanthomastus are re-evaluated based on examination of the type material. The main characteristics to distinguish these three deep-sea genera are tentacular and pharyngeal sclerites. A term sclerome as an inventory of all sclerites of the actual octocoral taxon is proposed. A replacement name Alcyonium pasternaki is proposed for the monomorphic Pseudoanthomastus pacificus Pasternak, 1981. Type materials of Anthomastus grandiflorus Verrill, A. agaricus Studer, A. canariensis Write & Studer, A. purpureus (Koren & Danielssen) and A. agassizii Verrill, all species described or reported from the North Atlantic, confirmed the validity of these species. |
