Ophiuroids from the Caiwei(Pako) guyot in the northwest Pacific
Abstract
The Caiwei(Pako) guyot is a table mount located in the middle of the Magellan seamount trail in the northwest Pacific. Ophiuroids samples were collected from different sides and depths (1660~2785 m) of the guyot by manned submersible vehicle "Jiaolong" with RV Xiangyanghong 9 during cruises DY31 and DY35. The Ophiuroid fauna is poor in number of species and diversity. Five deep sea species from 19 specimens including Ophioplinthaca plicata (Lyman, 1878), Ophioplinthaca defensor Koehler, 1930, Ophioleila elegans A.H. Clark, 1949 and Asteroschema edmondsoni A.H. Clark, 1949 were identified. Three of them (Ophioplinthaca defensor, Ophioleila elegans and Asteroschema edmondsoni) were first recorded in the northwest Pacific, especially, the Ophioleila elegans, which was first discovered in the Hawaiian islands, was the second records all of the world. One specimen might belong to a new species of Astrodia and another specimen might be a new species of Ophiacanthidae. Most of these Ophiuroids showed a symbiotic relationship with sponges or corals. Ophiuroids fauna showed a higher diversity from shallow sites (<2000m) than deep sites (>2000m). This study provides more information about deep sea ophiuroid which may help us in understanding their diversity and biogeographic patterns.
- Publication:
-
EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- April 2015
- Bibcode:
- 2015EGUGA..17.8190Z