One of the Deepest Genera of Antipatharia: Taxonomic Position Revealed and Revised

Abstract

The genus Abyssopathes Opresko, 2002, comprises deep-sea black corals known almost exclusively from lower bathyal and abyssal depths, mainly from seamounts covered by cobalt-rich crusts and areas of polymetallic nodules. The taxonomical position of the genus and its placement in the family Schizopathidae has been repeatedly questioned, but fruitlessly. Known only in extremely deep habitats, these corals have rarely been collected in a state suitable for morphological or molecular studies that could help to clarify their status. Recently, increasing attention has been paid to the study of fauna associated with deep-sea minerals. Using material of Abyssopathes lyra (Brook, 1889) sampled during these studies, we transfer the genus Abyssopathes from the family Schizopathidae to the family Cladopathidae based on morphological and molecular data. Morphological data includes six mesenteries in the polyps, a unique pinnulation pattern found only in genera within the Cladopathidae, and relatively short polyp tentacles, a feature typical of some cladopathids. Sequencing data, consisting of 626 bp from the mitochondrial cox1 gene, showed that Abyssopathes is 99% identical to Chrysopathes Opresko, 2003, Cladopathes Brook, 1889, Heteropathes Opresko, 2011, and Trissopathes Opresko, 2003 (all Cladopathidae), in this gene region.

Bathymetric evolution of black corals through deep time

“…Our ancestral reconstruction supports black corals' first diversification at slope depths. Additionally, most extant species occupy shelf and slope habitats between 50 and 800 m [ 55 ], with less than 20 species occupying the abyss. Based on our reconstruction, all abyssal lineages originated within the last 50 My.…”