identifier	taxonID	type	CVterm	format	language	title	description	additionalInformationURL	UsageTerms	rights	Owner	contributor	creator	bibliographicCitation
2DFF48EFBEC55097A5AAB1A2B365EEE2.text	2DFF48EFBEC55097A5AAB1A2B365EEE2.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Anthomastus mirabilis Li & Xu 2025	<div><p>Anthomastus mirabilis Li &amp; Xu sp. nov.</p><p>Figs 5, 6, 7, 8</p><p>Material examined.</p><p>Holotype • FIO-ATL 83 - JLBEN 27711, collected by Qinzeng Xu using the HOV Jiaolong from the R/V Shenhai Yihao on 28 February 2024 at station <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-14.348055&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-14.057778" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -14.348055/lat -14.057778)">JL 277</a> (14°3'28"S, 14°20'53"W), Southern Mid-Atlantic Ridge, at a depth of 1,553 m .</p><p>Paratypes • FIO-ATL 83 - JLBEN 27712 and FIO-ATL 83 - JLBEN 27713 were collected together with holotype .</p><p>Diagnosis.</p><p>Mushroom-shaped, with a spherical capitulum and a short and inconspicuous stalk. Polyps are dimorphic. Autozooids are large, retractile, and evenly arranged over the capitulum. Siphonozooids are invisible, numerous, densely scattered among autozooids. The sclerite profile is diverse, but characterized by the absence of spindles in all parts of the colony. Sclerites of the capitulum surface and stalk predominantly include multiradiates and plates. Tentacular sclerites are composed predominantly of dumbbells and plates; anthocodial walls contain clubs and dumbbells. Pharyngeal sclerites are platelets with a distinct median waist and crosses.</p><p>Description of holotype.</p><p>Colony form and size. The specimen FIO-ATL 83 - JLBEN 27711 has a prominent capitulum supported by an inconspicuous stalk, with an approximate 1: 1 height ratio between the capitulum and stalk, and a total height of 42 mm (Fig. 6 A, G). The capitulum is dome-shaped, with a diameter of 33 mm and a height of 20 mm. The stalk is short, thick, and cylindrical, with a diameter of 20 mm and a height of 22 mm.</p><p>Polyps. There are 22 large autozooids evenly arranged over the capitulum, typically spaced about 8 mm apart. The autozooids are retractile, with some being fully retracted while others are contracted with their tentacles curved inward, forming small spherical protrusions on the surface of capitulum (Fig. 5 C). The autozooids are large, with a maximum length of 51 mm (including tentacles, which are 17 mm long). The pinnules are arranged either oppositely or alternately, with 12–18 pairs. Siphonozooids are small, numerous, invisible, and scattered among the autozooids at intervals of 1.6–2.0 mm.</p><p>Sclerites. Tentacular sclerites (Fig. 6 A) are plates (0.12–0.21 mm long), rods (0.13–0.23 mm long), dumbbells (0.11–0.22 mm long), and a few rods with a short transverse axis (0.14–0.23 mm long). Pharyngeal sclerites (Fig. 6 B) are platelets with a median waist (0.05–0.08 mm long) and a few crosses derived from small plates. Sclerites of the anthocodial wall (Fig. 7 A) are rods (0.17–0.35 mm long), clubs (0.14–0.19 mm long), dumbbells (0.13–0.18 mm long), multiradiates (0.10–0.14 mm long), and a few crosses. Sclerites from the surface of capitulum (Fig. 7 B) are rods (0.18–0.37 mm long), clubs (0.17–0.23 mm long), multiradiates (0.11–0.14 mm long), and a few crosses. Sclerites from interior of capitulum (Fig. 7 C) are long rods (0.27–0.49 mm long). Sclerites from the surface of stalk (Fig. 8 A) are multiradiates (0.10–0.14 mm long), rods (0.15–0.23 mm long), and a few crosses. Sclerites from the interior of the stalk (Fig. 8 B) are long rods (0.32–0.40 mm long). Sclerites of the holdfast (Fig. 8 C) are rods (0.17–0.31 mm long), multiradiates (0.09–0.14 mm long), and a few crosses.</p><p>Color. Live specimens display a bright red color, while appearing vermilion in ethanol. The distal ends of the tentacles are yellowish-white.</p><p>Variation. Paratype FIO-ATL 83 - JLBEN 27712 was attached to a dead coral skeleton and has 20 autozooids. The capitulum is 16 mm high with a diameter of 23 mm. The stalk is short and inconspicuous, with a length of 6 mm. Paratype FIO-ATL 83 - JLBEN 27713 was also attached to a dead coral skeleton and has 28 autozooids. The capitulum is 22 mm high with a diameter of 33 mm, and the stalk is 16 mm high.</p><p>Etymology.</p><p>The Latin mirabilis, meaning “ wonderful ” and “ astonishing, ” concisely reflects how this deep-sea coral’s striking red, spherical form with long autozooids captivates observers with its beauty.</p><p>Distribution and habitat.</p><p>Known only from the type locality. Southern Mid-Atlantic Ridge, 1,553 –1,649 m.</p><p>Remarks.</p><p>The morphological characteristics of Anthomastus mirabilis sp. nov. match well with the generic definition of Anthomastus . Morphologically, A. mirabilis sp. nov. is most closely allied with A. grandiflorus Verrill, 1878, showing no obvious differences in the external morphology of the capitulum, stalk, and polyps. Both species are grouped by having platelets as the predominant pharyngeal sclerites and by having autozooids distributed across the whole capitulum. However, they are fundamentally separated by their sclerite composition: A. mirabilis sp. nov. possesses dumbbells and more plates in its tentacles, and clubs and dumbbells in its anthocodial wall. Crucially, A. mirabilis sp. nov. lacks spindles throughout the colony (capitulum, stalk, and holdfast), which is a key distinction from A. grandiflorus, for which spindles are a central diagnostic feature.</p><p>The new species also closely resembles A. gyratus . While both share similar sclerite morphology, A. mirabilis sp. nov. is separated because its autozooids are distributed across the entire capitulum, whereas in A. gyratus, they are arranged only over the distal three-quarters of the capitulum; furthermore, A. mirabilis sp. nov. lacks spindles and has dumbbells present in the anthocodial tentacles and wall, a combination not found in A. gyratus . The unique traits of A. mirabilis sp. nov. also exclude it from all remaining Anthomastus species. It differs from A. bayeri by the presence of pharyngeal sclerites. It is separated from A. nanhaiensis and A. tongi because its tentacular sclerites are more diverse and include plates, unlike the rods-exclusive composition of the latter two. Finally, its composition of predominantly platelet-type pharyngeal sclerites and its unique sclerite combination (dumbbells present, spindles absent) clearly distinguish it from all other Anthomastus species that either have different pharyngeal sclerite types (e. g., A. megacephalus) or different overall sclerite profiles (e. g., A. globosus and A. antarcticus). The combination of having dumbbells and plates in the tentacles while lacking spindles throughout the colony provides robust and comprehensive morphological evidence to support the designation of A. mirabilis as a distinct new species.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/2DFF48EFBEC55097A5AAB1A2B365EEE2	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Li, Xinlong;Xu, Ningxia;Ge, Meiling;Hu, Xuying;Li, Mengna;Wang, Zongling;Zhang, Xuelei;Xu, Qinzeng	Li, Xinlong, Xu, Ningxia, Ge, Meiling, Hu, Xuying, Li, Mengna, Wang, Zongling, Zhang, Xuelei, Xu, Qinzeng (2025): Morphology and phylogeny of two new species of deep-sea mushroom soft corals (Octocorallia, Corallidae, Anthomastinae) from the Southern Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Zoosystematics and Evolution 101 (4): 2103-2121, DOI: 10.3897/zse.101.163559
E8833D0F92535ED3809A05E727009E1A.text	E8833D0F92535ED3809A05E727009E1A.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Neoanthomastus Li, Li & Xu 2025	<div><p>Genus Neoanthomastus Li, Li &amp; Xu, 2025</p><p>Neoanthomastus Li, Li &amp; Xu, 2025: 12.</p><p>Diagnosis.</p><p>(Modified from Li et al. 2025, with bold italics indicating modifications.) Mushroom-shaped, capitate colonies with dome-shaped capitulum separated from a conspicuous and often cylindrical stalk. Polyps dimorphic, with sclerites. Autozooids arranged over capitulum, sterile, large, not very numerous, retractile but not completely retracted. Sclerites equally developed around autozooids. Anthocodial armature more developed near base of tentacles. Siphonozooids scattered over both capitulum and stalk, fertile, conspicuous, feebly armored, and numerous. Sclerites multiradiates, rods, spindles, needles, clubs, and crosses. Pharyngeal sclerites predominantly rodlets, sometimes with crosses. Tentacular sclerites predominately rods, spindles, and multiradiates.</p><p>Type species.</p><p>Neoanthomastus stellatus Li, Li &amp; Xu, 2025 .</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/E8833D0F92535ED3809A05E727009E1A	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Li, Xinlong;Xu, Ningxia;Ge, Meiling;Hu, Xuying;Li, Mengna;Wang, Zongling;Zhang, Xuelei;Xu, Qinzeng	Li, Xinlong, Xu, Ningxia, Ge, Meiling, Hu, Xuying, Li, Mengna, Wang, Zongling, Zhang, Xuelei, Xu, Qinzeng (2025): Morphology and phylogeny of two new species of deep-sea mushroom soft corals (Octocorallia, Corallidae, Anthomastinae) from the Southern Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Zoosystematics and Evolution 101 (4): 2103-2121, DOI: 10.3897/zse.101.163559
3CACF1D71AC95E5D8F8DF218B39E5EB4.text	3CACF1D71AC95E5D8F8DF218B39E5EB4.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Neoanthomastus longistylus Li & Xu 2025	<div><p>Neoanthomastus longistylus Li &amp; Xu sp. nov.</p><p>Figs 2, 3, 4, 5</p><p>Material examined.</p><p>Holotype • FIO-ATL 83 - JLBEN 26604, collected by Qinzeng Xu using the HOV Jiaolong from the R/V Shenhai Yihao on 14 February 2024 at station <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-13.537223&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-22.983889" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -13.537223/lat -22.983889)">JL 266</a> (22°59'2"S, 13°32'14"W), Southern Mid-Atlantic Ridge, at a depth of 1,860 m .</p><p>Paratypes • Two specimens (FIO-ATL 83 - JLBEN 26602, part of a colony; FIO-ATL 83 - JLBEN 26603), same station as for holotype • Two specimens (FIO-ATL 83 - JLBEN 26704; FIO-ATL 83 - JLBEN 26705, part of a colony), collected with the same vessel, gear, and by the same collectors as the holotype, on 15 February 2024 at station <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-13.497223&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-22.982224" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -13.497223/lat -22.982224)">JL 267</a> (22°58'56"S, 13°29'50"W), Southern Mid-Atlantic Ridge, at a depth of 2,150 m .</p><p>Diagnosis.</p><p>Mushroom-shaped, capitate colony with a spherical capitulum separated from a cylindrical stalk. Stalk is long, typically at least three times longer than its maximum width, and approximately 2.5 times longer than the capitulum. Autozooids are large, retractile but not completely retracted. Siphonozooids are red, small, visible, and distributed across the surface of the capitulum and restricted to the upper 1 / 3 of the stalk. Sclerites include rods, clubs, spindles, multiradiates, and crosses; sclerite density on the capitulum surface, tentacles, and pharynx is abundant. Sclerites from the interior of the capitulum are absent. Anthocodial walls contain both curved rods and clubs. Pharyngeal sclerites are rodlets and crosses. Tentacular sclerites consist exclusively of straight rods and rods with one end unilaterally curved, lacking spindles and multiradiates.</p><p>Description of holotype.</p><p>Colony form and size. The specimen FIO-ATL 83 - JLBEN 26604 is a mushroom-shaped, capitate colony with a spheroidal capitulum supported by a conspicuous stalk (Fig. 1 B). The capitulum is 17 mm in diameter and 15 mm high. The transition between the capitulum and the stalk is smooth. The conspicuous, longitudinally striated stalk is long (45 mm in height, 75 % of the colony), soft, and gradually tapers toward the capitulum (6 mm in diameter), while the base of the stalk is thicker (14 mm in diameter). In life, the specimen was attached to stone (Fig. 1 B).</p><p>Polyps. The polyps are dimorphic. 28 autozooids are evenly arranged on the capitulum, retractile but not completely retracted. Upon retraction, the tentacles first contract into a spherical shape, followed by the autozooids retracting into the capitulum, leaving a protrusion on the surface of the capitulum. The largest autozooid has a diameter of 5 mm and a length of 33 mm, including the tentacles. The tentacles reach up to 12 mm with mostly 14–18 pairs of pinnules. The longest pinnules are located at the distal third of the tentacles. Siphonozooids are distributed on the capitulum and the upper third of the stalk, visible as red protrusions, and are usually 0.4–0.6 mm wide, spaced 0.15–0.6 mm apart (Fig. 1 D).</p><p>Sclerites. Tentacular sclerites (Fig. 2 A) are exclusively composed of rods, including straight rods (0.17–0.35 mm long) and rods with one end curved (0.18–0.34 mm long). Pharyngeal sclerites (Fig. 2 B) are mostly rodlets (0.06–0.09 mm long) and a few crosses. Anthocodial sclerites (Fig. 3 A) are straight rods (0.16–0.36 mm long), rods with one end curved (0.16–0.37 mm long), and a few clubs (0.18–0.25 mm long). Sclerites from the surface of capitulum (Fig. 3 B) are straight rods (0.31–0.35 mm long), rods with one end curved (0.23–0.30 mm long), prominent tuberculated spindles (0.17–0.24 mm long), prominent tuberculated clubs (0.18–0.23 mm long), and multiradiates (0.12–0.15 mm long). Sclerites from surface of the stalk (Fig. 4 A) are mostly multiradiates (0.11–0.14 mm long), a few rods (0.31–0.34 mm long), and prominent tuberculated spindles (0.15–0.28 mm long). Sclerites from interior of the stalk (Fig. 4 B) are mostly rods (0.15–0.23 mm long) and a few rods with a short transverse axis (0.18–0.20 mm long). Sclerites of the holdfast (Fig. 4 C) are rods (0.23–0.31 mm long), multiradiates (0.12–0.15 mm long), prominent tuberculated spindles (0.15–0.25 mm long), a few rods with a short transverse axis (0.22–0.27 mm long), and crosses. Sclerites from the interior of the capitulum are absent.</p><p>Color. In alcohol, both the capitulum and the stalk appear red, with the stalk being slightly lighter in color than the capitulum. The tentacle tips and pinnules are pale yellow, and the sclerites are red.</p><p>Variation. Paratype FIO-ATL 83 - JLBEN 26602 is large, measuring 120 mm in total height, with a stalk height of 95 mm and bearing 28 autozooids. Paratype FIO-ATL 83 - JLBEN 26603 is attached to a dead coral branch, with a total height of 50 mm. The stalk measures 35 mm, approximately twice the height of the capitulum, and bears 12 autozooids. FIO-ATL 83 - JLBEN 26704 measures 75 mm in total height, with a stalk height of 55 mm and bears 18 autozooids. FIO-ATL 83 - JLBEN 26705 has a total height of 90 mm, with a stalk height of 72 mm and a relatively small capitulum (18 mm) bearing 9 autozooids.</p><p>Etymology.</p><p>The specific name longistylus refers to the long stalk, one of the characteristics of this species.</p><p>Distribution and habitat.</p><p>Known only from the Southern Mid-Atlantic Ridge, 1,860 –2,151 m.</p><p>Remarks.</p><p>N. longistylus sp. nov. has siphonozooids distributed across the capitulum’s surface and extending onto the stalk, with pharyngeal sclerites that are mostly rodlets. These characteristics distinguish it from other genera in the subfamily, placing it within the genus Neoanthomastus .</p><p>N. longistylus sp. nov. resembles N. giganteus in having an elongated stalk, siphonozooids scattered on the upper 1 / 3 of stalk. However, their sclerite characteristics differ. N. longistylus sp. nov. has abundant sclerites on its tentacles, pharynx, and capitulum surface, in contrast to N. giganteus (Tixier-Durivault, 1954), which has sparse sclerites. The autozooid tentacles of N. longistylus sp. nov. contain unilaterally curved rods, and its anthocodial walls have both curved rods and clubs, features absent in N. giganteus . The surface of N. longistylus sp. nov. lacks the spiny dumbbells found on N. giganteus . In addition, N. longistylus sp. nov. colonies are soft and mostly curved, while N. giganteus colonies are rigid.</p><p>Beyond N. giganteus, the new species is also clearly separated from all other members of the genus. It is distinguished from N. purpureus and N. hicksoni by possessing a distinctly elongated stalk (at least three times longer than wide), as opposed to their short stalks. Furthermore, N. longistylus sp. nov. differs from N. stellatus, N. tahinodus, and N. elongatus, which have siphonozooids covering the entire stalk, whereas the siphonozooids of the new species are restricted to the upper one-third.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/3CACF1D71AC95E5D8F8DF218B39E5EB4	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Li, Xinlong;Xu, Ningxia;Ge, Meiling;Hu, Xuying;Li, Mengna;Wang, Zongling;Zhang, Xuelei;Xu, Qinzeng	Li, Xinlong, Xu, Ningxia, Ge, Meiling, Hu, Xuying, Li, Mengna, Wang, Zongling, Zhang, Xuelei, Xu, Qinzeng (2025): Morphology and phylogeny of two new species of deep-sea mushroom soft corals (Octocorallia, Corallidae, Anthomastinae) from the Southern Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Zoosystematics and Evolution 101 (4): 2103-2121, DOI: 10.3897/zse.101.163559
