First record of Clavularia carpediem Weinberg, 1986 (Anthozoa, Stolonifera) since its original description: taxonomical, zoogeographical and bathymetrical data

Abstract

The stoloniferous octocoral Clavularia carpediem Weinberg, 1986 has been found in the european side of the Strait of Gibraltar. This especies is only known from the Alboran Sea. The distinguishing features of this species are the presence of sclerites in the tentacles, a very ornamented crown and the size range of the two principal groups of sclentes: thick spindles with complex tubercles and more slender ones, with simple tubercles, that occurs in the anthosteles and stolons. The extemal morphology of Clavularia carpediem Weinberg, 1986 from the Strait of Gibraltar and the variability of the sclentes are described. Some aspects related to its habitat, biology and zoogeography are discussed.