New deep-water cnidarian sites in the southern Adriatic Sea

摘要: Recent ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) exploration and bottom sampling in the southern Adriatic Sea (Apulian Montenegrin margins) resulted discovery of cnidarian-rich deep-sea habitats depth range ca. 400-700 m. In particular, inspection canyons reveals existence megabenthic communities dominated by a variety cnidarians, including scleractinians ( Madrepora oculata, Lophelia pertusa, Dendrophyllia cornigera ), antipatharians Leiopathes glaberrima ) gorgonians Callogorgia verticillata as major habitat forming taxa, often association with sponges and, subordinately, serpulids. All such cnidarians are new records for southeastern side Sea. Our investigation indicates that an almost continuous belt patchy cold water coral sites occurs along entire southwestern margin (Apulian), basically connecting populations those inhabiting Ionian (Santa Maria di Leuca province).