Three deep-water species of the north-eastern Atlantic have been studied: Caryophyllia abyssorum Duncan, 1873, C. calveri Duncan, 1873, C. sarsiae n.sp. Of these only C. abyssorum has not been found in the Mediterranean. In the north-eastern Atlantic these species appear characteristic of somewhat different depths, but occasionally can be found together. Obtained by early deep-sea expeditions (“Porcupine” cruise of 1870, cruises of Prince Albert I of Monaco), all three species have been previously confused and assigned, chiefly, to the little-known fossil species C. arcuata and C. cylindracea. In order to show the world-wide confusion about C. arcuata, some other records, from Cape Verde Islands to Japan through Antarctica, are quoted. |
