First Occurrence of Cirrhipathes Anguina (Dana, 1846) (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Antipatharia) in the Persian Gulf

Abstract

Black corals are known as deep-water creatures; however, members of the family Antipathidae are also found in shallow waters. Considering that the Persian Gulf is home to the northernmost coral species of the Indian Ocean, only species of genus Antipathes have been reported from the Persian Gulf so far. This paper is the first record of Cirrhipathes anguina (Dana 1846) from the Persian Gulf. This species has a wide distribution in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, especially in the Indo-West Pacific region. A single specimen was collected by SCUBA diving from Larak Island (Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf) from a 12 m depth. Colony morphology characteristics were examined by stereomicroscope, optical microscope and scanning electron microscope. Descriptions of this black coral and other taxonomic characteristics are provided. Molecular evidence also places this specimen in a clade with specimens of this species from Hawaii and Taiwan. In this study, we extended the known geographic distribution of this species in the Indo-Pacific region to the Persian Gulf.