Occurrence and Identity of Shallow-water Black Corals (Antipatharia) From Eastern Mactan and Its Vicinity, Cebu, Central Philippines

• Kurt Bryant B. Bacharo ^[1] ; Filipina B. Sotto ^[1]
  1. [1] University of San Carlos

     University of San Carlos

     Ciudad de Cebú, Filipinas

     
• Localización: Thalassas: An international journal of marine sciences, ISSN 0212-5919, Vol. 38, Nº. 2 (October 2022), 2022, págs. 1105-1122
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • Antipatharians (Anthozoa: Hexacorallia), commonly known as black corals are represented by over 275 recognized species that are characterized principally by a spiny proteinaceous skeleton. In the Philippines there has been very little scientific studies working on their taxonomy, abundance, and distribution. To address this lack of knowledge, we sought to identify the black corals found on the shallow-water reefs of Eastern Mactan, Sulpa, and Nalusuan Islands, within a depth range of 5–32 m. A total of eight distinct species were identified, belonging to two families (Myriopathidae and Antipathidae), and four genera (Antipathes, Cirrhipathes, Stichopathes, Myriopathes). Among them, two species (C. cf. contorta, S. cf. maldivensis) were reported for the first time in the Philippines. Given our small study area, these findings suggest that the Philippines may host a higher diversity of black corals than previously supposed.