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The Mediterranean black coral fauna includes type species of four antipatharian genera belonging to four different families, therefore phylogenetic studies hold great potential for enhancing systematics within the order. The analysis of six Mediterranean antipatharian species by means of nuclear sequence data of internal transcribed spacer (ITS1 and ITS2) rDNA confirms the separation into different families, as was previously noted on a morphological basis, with a clear distinction of the family Leiopathidae, whose position is supported by a unique number of mesenteries and lack of spines on thicker ramifications. The position of a newly recorded black coral species for the Mediterranean basin belonging to the genus Phanopathes is discussed. Antipathes dichotoma , the type species of the genus Antipathes , on which the order Antipatharia was based, does not group with other members of the family Antipathidae. Supporting a recent finding based on mitochondrial markers, this suggests a critical need for revision of the families that will be impacted by reassignment of this nomenclaturally important taxon. The Mediterranean Sea is home to a diverse assemblage of black corals including some of the most early described antipatharian species. A new molecular analysis reveals that the species on which the genus Antipathes , the family Antipathidae, and the order Antipatharia are based is an imposter! Thus, we are recommending a revision of the classification scheme that has been in place since 1766 to reflect this unexpected finding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A remotely operated vehicle (ROV) survey conducted in the deep (250–400 m) Maltese waters in 2013 revealed, for the first time, the characteristics of an extended coral forest, constituted almost exclusively by the arborescent, longevous black coralLeiopathes glaberrima. This species is a major component of the deep coral forests of the Mediterranean Sea and its occurrence in dense populations greatly enhances the benthic biodiversity of the sites in question. The existence of such a complex benthic ecosystem is particularly interesting for Malta, since this area represented, in the 1980s, the only sanctioned site within the Mediterranean basin for the commercial exploitation of black corals. The occurrence of the large black coral population hints that, at least within the investigated area, the coral resource has not greatly suffered from past coral harvesting activities. The major current concern, however, is represented by the massive anthropogenic impact due to benthic fishing activities carried out on the rocky bank, as evidenced by the high amount of discarded fishing gear directly impacting the specimens. The data here presented, despite being preliminary in nature, suggests that the investigated benthic area should be considered a vulnerable marine ecosystem valuable for future scientific monitoring exercises. Appropriate benthic fishing restrictions for the area in question, which might be considered for inclusion within an marine protected area (MPA), should be contemplated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black coral communities in the Mediterranean Sea are now recognized to be far more common than what was expected a few years ago; however, among the species reported for this basin,Parantipathes larixis one of the least well known. This species is characterized by tall, monopodial or sparsely branched colonies showing a distinctive bottle-brush pinnulation pattern and fairly elongated whitish polyps. Rarely reported in the literature, this species, despite frequently occurring as fishing bycatch, has never been observed in dense populations and all available information mainly concerns its morphological features. Two forests ofP. larixwere discovered during a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) survey conducted in July 2012 on board the R/VAstreabetween 100 and 200 m on two continental rocky shoals located about 10 miles southeast of the Island of Montecristo (Tuscan Archipelago, Tyrrhenian Sea). Video footage was analyzed using the ROV imaging technique, and the coral communities were described in terms of abundance, size-frequency distribution and associated fauna.P. larixis the dominant component of both coral communities showing a maximal abundance of 4 colonies m−2. Sixteen different patches ofP. larix, each covering an approximate area of 30 m2and spaced on average 60 m apart, were counted on the rocky shoals, representing, with an average height of the colonies of about 1 m, the only true three-dimensional habitat of the study areas. The forests ofP. larixof Montecristo represent, as far as we know, a unique case for the exceptional abundance of the colonies and their distribution in discrete patches, which is likely a result of the limited dispersal ability of the larvae. Moreover, their occurrence on isolated banks may suggest a preference for topographic structures subjected to local turbulent hydrographic regimes which are known to support filter-feeding communities. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The discovery of a small population of the black coral Antipathes dichotoma in the deep waters off the Calabrian coast (South Italy, Tyrrhenian Sea) is reported. The specimens have been photographed and a piece of colony has been collected with the aid of an ROV during an oceanographic cruise on board of the R/V Astrea of ICRAM, within the project Monitoring of the Calabrian Marine Biodiversity (MoBioMarCal). This finding completes the systematic picture of the oldest-described antipatharian species, giving an account of the living colonies and polyps, their cnidome and the habitat of the species, characterised by a rich and diverse coral community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distribution of Antipathella subpinnata in Italian seas is herein given and discussed. A. subpinnata is a large, white, branched antipatharian with an Atlanto-Mediterranean distribution. It is probably the most commonly observed black coral in this basin and it is possible to find large populations of this species at diving depths. Personal records of the occurrence of the species in the Strait of Messina, together with a wide census involving diving centres along all the Italian coasts, have been used to create a distribution data set. A description of the species, including in vivo measurements of the polyps, is given. Information concerning the habitat, the population density, the substrate, the epibionts and the environmental conditions of the sites where the species was found are also included. This study confirms the importance of A. subpinnata as a common component of the lower fringe of the circalittoral twilight environment, below 50 m depth, in localities where hard substrata are available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on myzostomids which are a group of ecto- and endosymbionts animals that live in association with echinoderms. Topics discussed include the Indonesian black coral Cirrhipathes cf. Rumphii, coral colonies, and parapodia. Also mentioned are polyps, zooids, and parasitic castration.

The growth rate of two species of whip black corals belonging to the genera Cirrhipathes and Stichopathes has been evaluated in different experiments conducted in the Marine Park of Bunaken (Indonesia) for over one year. Unbranched, unpinnulated black corals result among the fastest growing colonial organisms, with maximal growth rates of 13.25 cm month−1 for Cirrhipathes cfr anguina and 1.3 cm month−1 for Stichopathes cfr maldivensis. Several observations made both on transplants and on natural colonies add new information on the growth strategy of black corals. The easy handling, the high rate of survivorship and the fast growth of transplants indicate that black corals can be successfully employed in the recovery projects of harvested reefs. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]