CSIRO Publishing Invertebrate Systematics
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The first description, “A new genus of bamboo coral (Octocorallia: Scleralcyonacea: Keratoisididae) from the Whittard Canyon, Ireland, Northeast Atlantic,” introduces a new genus of bamboo corals, the genus “Explorisis.”
Basic information about Explorisis poppyae:
The holotype (USNM1593518) originates from Whittard Canyon, Ireland, Northeast Atlantic, and was collected on June 1, 2017, at a depth of 1678 meters.
The colony is flat, over 30 cm high, and branches dichotomously into a fan shape, although no anastomoses of the branches were observed.
Branching occurs at the nodes, the length of the nodes and internodes is unknown.
The polyps are trumpet-shaped, about 5 mm long, orange to pink in color, and arise on all sides of the coenenchyme.
Explorisis poppyae exhibits a range of colony morphologies, suggesting that differences in gross colony morphology may be due to different growth stages of the species or to environmental factors. Factors such as increased food availability within canyon systems may promote growth and result in larger colonies with more polyps and thicker coenenchyme compared to open slope environments.
Etymology:
The species was named after A. L. Allcock's daughter, Poppy Johnson, who is as beautiful as the flower she is named after, and this coral now bears her name.
Scientific reference::
Morrissey D et al. (2024)
A new genus of bamboo coral (Octocorallia: Scleralcyonacea: Keratoisididae) from the Whittard Canyon, Ireland, Northeast Atlantic.
Invertebrate Systematics 38, IS24021. doi:10.1071/IS24021 © 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing.
© 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Basic information about Explorisis poppyae:
The holotype (USNM1593518) originates from Whittard Canyon, Ireland, Northeast Atlantic, and was collected on June 1, 2017, at a depth of 1678 meters.
The colony is flat, over 30 cm high, and branches dichotomously into a fan shape, although no anastomoses of the branches were observed.
Branching occurs at the nodes, the length of the nodes and internodes is unknown.
The polyps are trumpet-shaped, about 5 mm long, orange to pink in color, and arise on all sides of the coenenchyme.
Explorisis poppyae exhibits a range of colony morphologies, suggesting that differences in gross colony morphology may be due to different growth stages of the species or to environmental factors. Factors such as increased food availability within canyon systems may promote growth and result in larger colonies with more polyps and thicker coenenchyme compared to open slope environments.
Etymology:
The species was named after A. L. Allcock's daughter, Poppy Johnson, who is as beautiful as the flower she is named after, and this coral now bears her name.
Scientific reference::
Morrissey D et al. (2024)
A new genus of bamboo coral (Octocorallia: Scleralcyonacea: Keratoisididae) from the Whittard Canyon, Ireland, Northeast Atlantic.
Invertebrate Systematics 38, IS24021. doi:10.1071/IS24021 © 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing.
© 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
