Opresko D.M., Wagner D., Montgomery A.D., Brugler M.R., 2012.Discovery of Aphanipathes verticillata (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Antipatharia) in the
Hawaiian Islands. Zootaxa 3348: 24–39
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Opresko, D. M.; Wagner, D.; Montgomery, A. D.; Brugler, M. R.
2012
Discovery of Aphanipathes verticillata (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Antipatharia) in the Hawaiian Islands
Zootaxa
3348: 24-39
Publication
Mesophotic coral reef surveys conducted off Maui in 2008–2009 revealed several specimens superficially resembling the
commercial black coral species Antipathes griggi Opresko 2009. After subsequent microscopic examination of the skeletal
features, these colonies proved to be morphologically very similar to Aphanipathes verticillata Brook 1889, a species
never before reported from the Hawaiian Islands. A comparison with samples of the type material of A. verticillata indicated
that the specimens collected in Hawaiian waters differed from the type in having simplier and less dense tubercles
on the skeletal spines, a character which merits the recognition of the Hawaiian population as a new subspecies, A. verticillata
mauiensis. Colonies of the new subspecies exhibit considerable morphological variation; DNA analysis of fifteen
specimens ruled out the possibility of the presence of a cryptic species. Further DNA investigations on specimens from
various localities in the western Pacific and Indian Ocean are needed to better understand the genetic relationship between
the two forms. The morphological similarity of A. verticillata mauiensis with Antipathes griggi raises questions concerning the validity of past field surveys evaluating the population size and structure of A. griggi since it is possible that the two species could easily be misidentified based on gross morphology alone. Additional studies are also needed to document the geographic and bathymetric distribution of the subspecies along the Hawaiian Island chain.
