New octocoral records for the Ecuadorian Tropical Eastern Pacific

The genus Muricea, a highly speciose gorgonian coral group in the Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP), is commonly found on shallow rocky reefs including Machalilla National Park (MNP), El Pelado Marine Reserve (REMAPE) and Galápagos Marine Reserve (GMR). Here, we report the presence of M. hebes, M. echi...

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Detalhes bibliográficos
Autores: Vergara, Diana Carolina, Jaramillo, Karla B., Rodríguez, Jenny, Abad Godoy, Rubén
Formato: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2022
País:Ecuador
Recursos:Universidad Regional Amazónica
Repositorio:Repositorio Universidad Regional Amazónica
OAI Identifier:oai:repositorio.ikiam.edu.ec:RD_IKIAM/610
Acesso em linha:http://repositorio.ikiam.edu.ec/jspui/handle/RD_IKIAM/610
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palavra-chave:Muricea
Octocorallia
Alcyonacea
Plexauridae;
REMAPE
Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP)
Ecuador
Descrição
Resumo:The genus Muricea, a highly speciose gorgonian coral group in the Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP), is commonly found on shallow rocky reefs including Machalilla National Park (MNP), El Pelado Marine Reserve (REMAPE) and Galápagos Marine Reserve (GMR). Here, we report the presence of M. hebes, M. echinata and M. robusta, which have been not previously reported at the REMAPE area and along the Ecuadorian region. These new records for Muricea hebes (Verril, 1864) in Ecuador broaden the known geographical distribution of these species across the tempered waters of California and Mexico, and the Tropical Eastern Pacific, belonging to Panama and Ecuador. Muricea robusta (Verril, 1864) was previously recorded in Mexico and Colombia, whereas M. echinata (Verril, 1866) was only found in Panama. This report contributes to increasing the knowledge of marine diversity in Ecuador, and broadens the previously recorded geographic distribution of the genus Muricea through out the TEP.