taxonID	type	description	language	source
039D704E3815C224FF1D65C87D12FBB1.taxon	materials_examined	Type species: Mopsea arbusculum Johnson, 1862	en	France, Scott C. (2017): A taxonomic review of the genus Acanella (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Isididae) in the North Atlantic Ocean, with descriptions of two new species. Zootaxa 4323 (3): 359-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4323.3.2
039D704E3815C224FF1D65C87D12FBB1.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis: Bush-like colonies, branched dichotomously or in whorls, one to six branches at each node. Colonies moderate in size (rarely more than 20 cm) when anchored in soft substrate by lobate holdfast, larger (possibly to 1 m in height) and compressed when attached to hard bottom; internodes solid, short (to 2 cm) and covered with thin coenenchyme. Polyps non-retractile with a narrower base and wider at the mouth, or more or less cylindrical, and perpendicular or angled towards the branch. Polyps armed with sparsely prickly needles and / or rods running longitudinally or obliquely up the polyp body wall; pharyngeal wall with small thorny stars or short rods.	en	France, Scott C. (2017): A taxonomic review of the genus Acanella (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Isididae) in the North Atlantic Ocean, with descriptions of two new species. Zootaxa 4323 (3): 359-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4323.3.2
039D704E3815C224FF1D65C87D12FBB1.taxon	discussion	Remarks: Gray (1870) described the family Acanelladae as a monotypic family for the species Acanella arbuscula. Acanelladae was diagnosed as having verticillate or simple branching from the node and eight sclerites protruding beyond the base of the tentacles. Wright and Studer (1889) deemed the designation as superfluous and placed the genus Acanella in the subfamily Keratoisidinae, noting that Acanella and Isidella differ in the “ spiny character of the spicules and mode of branching. ” Isidella has dichotomous or trichotomous branching and does not have large sclerites that project between the bases of the tentacles as in Acanella. Verrill (1883) suggested that the genus Isidella was doubtful and should be ignored because it was never properly described (it was based solely on the skeleton) and thus cannot be positively identified. However, Koch (1887) redescribed Isidella and included illustrations that resolved some of the uncertainty between Isidella and Acanella. Koch’s illustrations and description of Isidella noted large sclerites do not project between the tentacles. However, Wright and Studer (1889) and Kükenthal (1924) both suggest that the sclerites can protrude slightly between the tentacles in Isidella if the specimen is dry or tentacles are highly contracted. Carpine and Grasshoff’s (1975) image of Isidella elongata shows large sclerites that project well past the tentacle bases (Figure 59: Carpine and Grasshoff, 1975). Muzik (1978) suggested that Acanella should be synonymized with Isidella as they both branch from the node and have sclerites that protrude through the base of the tentacles. Bayer (1990) indicated that whorled branching at the node in Acanella is so distinct it should remain a separate genus from Isidella pending a review of all species. However, in the same paper he described the new species, A. dispar, as a strongly compressed bush, “ with principal branching commonly in whorls of two, roughly planar, secondary branching in whorls of 3 or more, ” thus creating a flattened colony with bushy branches.	en	France, Scott C. (2017): A taxonomic review of the genus Acanella (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Isididae) in the North Atlantic Ocean, with descriptions of two new species. Zootaxa 4323 (3): 359-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4323.3.2
039D704E3816C223FF1D609C7C23F9AD.taxon	materials_examined	Type: The original description for Mopsea arbusculum states, “ A single example of this Coral was obtained from a fisherman at Cama de Lobos, Madeira, and is now in the British Museum ” (Johnson, 1862 p. 246) from 20 fathoms. However the Natural History Museum, London, has type information for Acanella arbuscula as collected via trawl off the coast of Greenland in 1898 (Reg. no. 1898.5.5.85). We have not examined the type material.	en	France, Scott C. (2017): A taxonomic review of the genus Acanella (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Isididae) in the North Atlantic Ocean, with descriptions of two new species. Zootaxa 4323 (3): 359-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4323.3.2
039D704E3816C223FF1D609C7C23F9AD.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis: Acanella with obliquely placed polyps (3 ̄ 8 mm) absent on lower parts but scattered to densely packed throughout colony proper and present on tips. Polyps less than 1 mm wide at base and generally funnel shaped with the proximal end being smaller than distal end. Long slender rods (1 ̄ 3 mm) arranged obliquely up polyp wall. Strongly projecting intertentacular sclerites, which extend beyond the base of the contracted tentacles by 500 µm. Coenenchyme very thin and containing needle-like sclerites (0.3 mm). Branching occurs at node dichotomously or in a whorl of two to six but most commonly two to four. Axis has long white internodes (3 ̄ 26 mm) and short dark brown nodes at base of the colony and longer nodes near tips. Colony can have a calcareous root-like base.	en	France, Scott C. (2017): A taxonomic review of the genus Acanella (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Isididae) in the North Atlantic Ocean, with descriptions of two new species. Zootaxa 4323 (3): 359-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4323.3.2
039D704E3816C223FF1D609C7C23F9AD.taxon	discussion	Remarks: Colonies with sequence Haplotype A (Figure 4) morphologically correspond to the description of A. arbuscula in its entirety but also to that of A. eburnea partially. The variation we observed within and among colonies spans the descriptions of both species. Haplotype A specimens may branch in whorls of two to six at a node, but more often are found branching dichotomously or in whorls of two to four. Polyp morphology is variable in terms of length (3 ̄ 7 mm) and shape, even among polyps on the same colony. Longer polyps are found near the tips of the colony. Polyps are generally more slender at the base and wider at the mouth, but some polyps are more cylindrical throughout. Living polyps are cream to orange in color and cream to pale brown after preservation in ethanol. Eggs are stored in the base to middle of the polyp depending on polyp size. The primary diagnostic difference between A. arbuscula and A. eburnea is branching pattern. A. eburnea is described as having two to three branching points at a node whereas A. arbuscula has four branches arising from a node. However, distal parts of a colony may have biramous branching whereas the base has verticillate branching, thus making collections of partial colony fragments difficult in terms of species identification. We do not see differences in branching patterns in all specimens represented by Haplotype A. A. arbuscula and A. eburnea have also been described as differing in the length of marginal and basal sclerites, but we do not see any separation (Figure 5 A, B); it was Grant’s (1976) position that the length of sclerites is too variable and not a good indicator of a species. However, a difference in sclerite size is observed, for example, between colonies bearing Haplotypes A and G (Figure 5 C, D), which differ by 4 base pair changes in the mtMutS region. Kükenthal (1919) synonymized A. spiculosa with A. eburnea thereby increasing the range of sclerite lengths. Haplotype A was the most commonly encountered Acanella, derived from colonies from all the major ocean basins and across the largest depth range (Figure 3). Among the specimens available to us for genetic analysis, those with Haplotype A had been variously identified as A. arbuscula, A. eburnea, and even Isidella elongata. These specimens have polyp and sclerite morphology within the range described above (Figure 6) and it appears that the name applied to the specimens may often be based on collection location. Specimens collected from the Northern Atlantic (New England Seamounts and off the coasts of Europe, Canada, and northern United States) were routinely identified as A. arbuscula, whereas specimens collected from farther south – off the coasts of the U. S. mid-Atlantic and southern states, Gulf of Mexico, and Bahamas – were often identified as A. eburnea. Furthermore, specimens from the Mediterranean Sea identified as Isidella elongata also had sequence Haplotype A and polyp morphology highly similar to the other representatives of Haplotype A (Figure 6). Carpine and Grasshoff (1975) posited that of I. elongata and A. arbuscula, only I. elongata is found in the Mediterranean Sea, while A. arbuscula is found no closer than the eastern Atlantic. Later, Grasshoff (1986) expanded the range of I. elongata to the Atlantic side of the Strait of Gibraltar and noted that 1) A. arbuscula co-occurs with I. elongata at the mouth of the Mediterranean Sea, and 2) although A. arbuscula has the wider distribution in the Atlantic it is still not found within the Mediterranean Sea. Our analysis revealed Mediterranean Sea specimens with Haplotype A at the same location and depth (300 ̄ 800 m) as collections of reported I. elongata. One collection was made at 546 m depth using an ROV, with images taken of the whole colony in situ prior to sampling (Figure 7). The images show the colony has the typical planar form described for I. elongata, with dichotomous branching only, and is living in the typical compact mud facies with which this species is associated. However, an examination of the polyps shows the long, obliquely positioned sclerites typical of Acanella, and sequence derived from a tissue sample from this colony revealed Haplotype A. We surmise that some specimens of A. arbuscula have been misidentified as I. elongata, reflecting the similarity of these taxa and assumptions made based on the location of the collection, i. e. if a nodal-branching colony is in the Mediterranean Sea, the default assumption is I. elongata. Bayer (1990) is the most recent study to comment on A. eburnea, stating that it is different from A. arbuscula, but we do not find genetic variation at mtMutS or 18 S between any specimens we have identified to those species, suggesting that the morphological differences seen between these nominal species are best interpreted as intraspecific variation. We propose that colonies bearing Haplotype A and the morphology illustrated in Figures 4, 6, and 7, are a single species and herein synonymize A. eburnea with A. arbuscula, which retains its name as it has priority. Thus, A. arbuscula has a wider geographic range than initially stated and currently appreciated.	en	France, Scott C. (2017): A taxonomic review of the genus Acanella (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Isididae) in the North Atlantic Ocean, with descriptions of two new species. Zootaxa 4323 (3): 359-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4323.3.2
039D704E3816C223FF1D609C7C23F9AD.taxon	distribution	Distribution: Northern to equatorial Atlantic Ocean, Southwest Pacific Ocean, Aleutian Islands, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, 350 ̄ 2035 m depth.	en	France, Scott C. (2017): A taxonomic review of the genus Acanella (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Isididae) in the North Atlantic Ocean, with descriptions of two new species. Zootaxa 4323 (3): 359-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4323.3.2
039D704E3812C221FF1D62277CF2FEF4.taxon	materials_examined	Type: Collected via dredge. Station 301, in the Messier Channel, Patagonia, Chile. 175 fathoms depth. Indicated as deposited in the Natural History Museum, London; however we were not able to verify the location of the type specimen at the time of this publication. For description see: Wright & Studer 1889	en	France, Scott C. (2017): A taxonomic review of the genus Acanella (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Isididae) in the North Atlantic Ocean, with descriptions of two new species. Zootaxa 4323 (3): 359-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4323.3.2
039D704E3812C221FF1D62277CF2FEF4.taxon	discussion	Remarks: The specimens represented by Haplotype C (Figure 8) have 5 ̄ 7 mm tall polyps with curved, slightly club-shaped sclerites with spine-like projections, which corresponds with the species description of A. chiliensis as described in Wright and Studer (1889). A. chiliensis is the only valid species within the genus that has club-shaped sclerites. Published reports of A. chiliensis appear only once, a collection from the eastern South Pacific (Messier Channel, Patagonia, Chile) at 320 m depth; our samples thus expand the known distribution of the species to the western South Pacific and Indian Ocean (New Zealand-Kermadec [n = 5] and Indian [n = 1] deep-sea provinces; Watling et al. 2013) and the depth range to 1195 m.	en	France, Scott C. (2017): A taxonomic review of the genus Acanella (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Isididae) in the North Atlantic Ocean, with descriptions of two new species. Zootaxa 4323 (3): 359-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4323.3.2
039D704E3812C221FF1D62277CF2FEF4.taxon	distribution	Distribution: South Pacific and Indian Ocean, 320 ̄ 1195 m depth.	en	France, Scott C. (2017): A taxonomic review of the genus Acanella (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Isididae) in the North Atlantic Ocean, with descriptions of two new species. Zootaxa 4323 (3): 359-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4323.3.2
039D704E3813C23EFF1D60747C85F86E.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined: Collected via trawl aboard R / V Alis, north of New Caledonia. - 21.7333 166.633, 383 ̄ 385 m depth, 5 September 2011, Station CP 3810 Specimen ID EXB 38101. Deposited in the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle; MNHN-IK- 2011 - 1004. Collected via trawl aboard R / V Alis, west of New Caledonia. - 22.2498 167.2170, 390 ̄ 410 m depth, 25 October 2008, Station CP 3089, Specimen ID TER 10037. Deposited in the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle; MNHN-IK- 2008 - 1760. GenBank accession # KX 270220, KX 270213. - 22.1912 167.1593, 360 ̄ 380 m depth, 25 October 2008, Station CP 3092, Specimen ID TER 10063, TER 10064, TER 10065, TER 30921. Deposited in the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle; MNHN-IK- 2008 - 1765, MNHN-IK- 2008 - 1764, MNHN-IK- 2008 - 1762, MNHN-IK- 2011 - 1003. - 22.4672 167.4843, 440 ̄ 550 m depth, 24 October 2008, Station DW 3080, Specimen ID TER 9039. Deposited in the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle; MNHN-IK- 2008 ̄ 1835.	en	France, Scott C. (2017): A taxonomic review of the genus Acanella (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Isididae) in the North Atlantic Ocean, with descriptions of two new species. Zootaxa 4323 (3): 359-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4323.3.2
039D704E3813C23EFF1D60747C85F86E.taxon	description	Description: Colonies bush-like with primary branching at the node, dichotomous in older parts of the colony and whorls of one to three on the secondary branches. Where collected holdfasts were round. Internodes white in color, 1 – 2 cm in length, and weakly longitudinally ribbed; main axis internodes at base of colony thickened and overgrowing nodes. Anastomosis of branches was not observed. Nodes are dark brown to black. Axis covered by light brown to dark brown coenenchyme when preserved. Coenenchymal sclerites 225 – 600 µm (n = 100; mean = 365 µm ± 0.02 µm) length, needle-like and covered with small spines. Polyps when preserved in ethanol are light brown to dark brown in color. Polyps small (1 ̄ 1.2 mm; n = 80; mean = 1.11 mm ± 0.02 mm) and squat (0.6 – 0.8 mm; n = 90; mean = 0.67 mm ± 0.02 mm) with a cylindrical shape that is slightly wider at the distal end compared to the proximal end. Polyps 2 mm apart on secondary branches, scarce on primary branch. Polyps arise 30 ° ̄ 45 ° from axis and are loosely biserially arranged on branch. Sclerites of polyp body predominantly short and needle-like (Figure 9) and range in length from 150 ̄ 250 µm (n = 100; mean = 167 µm ± 0.02 µm); 1 ̄ 2 needle-like, polyp-size sclerites (1 ̄ 1.5 mm; n = 60; mean = 1.23 mm ± 0.04 mm) may be found on the abaxial side of polyps and protrude between tentacles. Sclerites arranged longitudinally or obliquely up polyp body. Tentacular sclerites consist of small rods with small spines ranging from 150 ̄ 350 µm (n = 100; mean = 157 µm ± 0.01 µm). DNA sequences derived from mtMusS - 5 ’ (GenBank accession # KX 270220) and 18 S (KX 270213) differ from other the other Pacific Acanella Haplotypes by at least 0.10 % (2 nucleotide substitutions across 1955 sites).	en	France, Scott C. (2017): A taxonomic review of the genus Acanella (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Isididae) in the North Atlantic Ocean, with descriptions of two new species. Zootaxa 4323 (3): 359-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4323.3.2
039D704E3813C23EFF1D60747C85F86E.taxon	discussion	Remarks: Colonies with Haplotype D most closely resemble A. dispar based on polyp and sclerite morphology (Figure 9). In particular, these colonies have long sclerites restricted to one side of the polyp; however, Bayer (1990) described these elongate needles as being abaxial in A. dispar, whereas in the colonies we examined and sequenced, the elongate needles are found adaxial or abaxial depending on curvature of the polyp. Bayer’s (1990) A. dispar were collected in the Hawaiian Islands whereas the colonies with Haplotype D came from the southwestern Pacific Ocean near New Caledonia, albeit in the same depth range as A. dispar (Figure 3). To be conservative, we have chosen not to definitively assign these samples to A. dispar pending further analysis. Among the Acanella Haplotypes, C (A. chiliensis) and D (A. cf. dispar) are the closest genetically, with only two substitutions (in mtMutS- 5 ’) between them. They both differ from the hypothesized transitional sequence by the same seven substitutions (Figure 2) and have overlapping distributions and depth ranges. Although sequence Haplotypes C and D have low genetic distance between them and colonies overlap in geographic distribution, the polyp morphology of the two species is very different.	en	France, Scott C. (2017): A taxonomic review of the genus Acanella (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Isididae) in the North Atlantic Ocean, with descriptions of two new species. Zootaxa 4323 (3): 359-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4323.3.2
039D704E3813C23EFF1D60747C85F86E.taxon	distribution	Distribution: North and west of New Caledonia, 360 ̄ 550 m depth.	en	France, Scott C. (2017): A taxonomic review of the genus Acanella (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Isididae) in the North Atlantic Ocean, with descriptions of two new species. Zootaxa 4323 (3): 359-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4323.3.2
039D704E380DC23FFF1D64A77A6BF8EF.taxon	materials_examined	Type: Collected via dredge. Station 194, off Banda Islands, Indonesia. 220 fathoms depth. Deposited in the Natural History Museum, London. Reg no. 1889.5.27.22. For description see: Wright & Studer 1889	en	France, Scott C. (2017): A taxonomic review of the genus Acanella (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Isididae) in the North Atlantic Ocean, with descriptions of two new species. Zootaxa 4323 (3): 359-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4323.3.2
039D704E380DC23FFF1D64A77A6BF8EF.taxon	discussion	Remarks: Specimens with Haplotype E (Figure 10) match the description of A. rigida, with tall (4 ̄ 5 mm) polyps and long (3 ̄ 5 mm) curved fusiform sclerites that extend the length of the polyp, twisting around the body and protruding past the base of the tentacles. The sclerites are irregular in shape, large and all have more-or-less well-developed tubercles. A. rigida, A. robusta, and A. verticillata have similar characteristics, all with large obliquely placed sclerites that curve around the polyp body and project between the base of the tentacles, and Bayer (1990) suggested they might be the same species. However, Bayer (1990) and Grant (1975) note the following differences among the species: A. rigida has tall (4 ̄ 5 mm) polyps whereas the other two have short (2 mm) polyps; all three have sclerites strongly projecting between the tentacles but A. robusta has sclerites that are heavily covered by small sharp tubercles.	en	France, Scott C. (2017): A taxonomic review of the genus Acanella (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Isididae) in the North Atlantic Ocean, with descriptions of two new species. Zootaxa 4323 (3): 359-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4323.3.2
039D704E380DC23FFF1D64A77A6BF8EF.taxon	distribution	Distribution: Our collection expands the known range of A. rigida from off the coast of Japan, Philippines, and Indonesia, to east of Papua New Guinea; the depth range remains the same at 350 ̄ 700 m (Figure 3).	en	France, Scott C. (2017): A taxonomic review of the genus Acanella (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Isididae) in the North Atlantic Ocean, with descriptions of two new species. Zootaxa 4323 (3): 359-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4323.3.2
039D704E380EC23CFF1D64A77D28FD2C.taxon	materials_examined	Type: Bay of Bengal, Station 325, 18 ° 18 ’ N, 93 ° 25 ’ E. 843 fathoms depth. Deposited in the Indian Museum, Calcutta. For description see: Thomson & Henderson 1906	en	France, Scott C. (2017): A taxonomic review of the genus Acanella (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Isididae) in the North Atlantic Ocean, with descriptions of two new species. Zootaxa 4323 (3): 359-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4323.3.2
039D704E380EC23CFF1D64A77D28FD2C.taxon	discussion	Remarks: We found two specimens with Haplotype H and their morphology corresponds to A. robusta (Figure 11). They have prominently tuberculated sclerites, which give the sclerites a textured appearance that is visible to the naked eye, and small rods in the coenenchyme. A. robusta also differs from A. rigida by its large squat base (2 mm) and large, obliquely arranged sclerites that do not reach the whole length of the polyp, as they do in A. rigida. A. robusta is found deeper than A. rigida (1019 ̄ 1390 m; Figure 3).	en	France, Scott C. (2017): A taxonomic review of the genus Acanella (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Isididae) in the North Atlantic Ocean, with descriptions of two new species. Zootaxa 4323 (3): 359-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4323.3.2
039D704E380EC23CFF1D64A77D28FD2C.taxon	distribution	Distribution: Our collection has expanded the known locations of A. rigida from the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal off the coast of Myanmar (Burma) to the Bismark Sea off the coast of Papua New Guinea. The known depth range is expanded to 1019 ̄ 1542 m.	en	France, Scott C. (2017): A taxonomic review of the genus Acanella (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Isididae) in the North Atlantic Ocean, with descriptions of two new species. Zootaxa 4323 (3): 359-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4323.3.2
039D704E380EC23DFF1D62767C60F847.taxon	materials_examined	Type: Collected via long-line fishing, off of Monaco, Mediterranean Sea. 190 m depth. Deposited in the Musée Océanographique de Monaco. For description see: Thomson, 1929	en	France, Scott C. (2017): A taxonomic review of the genus Acanella (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Isididae) in the North Atlantic Ocean, with descriptions of two new species. Zootaxa 4323 (3): 359-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4323.3.2
039D704E380EC23DFF1D62767C60F847.taxon	discussion	Remarks: Colonies with Haplotype F match the description of Acanella furcata (Figure 12), which is known only from the Mediterranean Sea, where all the sequenced Haplotype F specimens were collected. A. furcata was synonymized by Carpine and Grasshoff (1975: 107) with Isidella elongata, although they did not provide an explanation as to why but rather state it as a fact without doubt (“ Il n’y a non plus aucun doute sur l’identité d’ Acanella furcata Thomson avec I. elongata. ”). The original description of Isidella indicates that it has large sclerites that do not project between the base of tentacles. Koch (1887) re-described Isidella and both his illustrations and description include large sclerites that do not project between the tentacles. Carpine & Grasshoff’s (1975) image of I. elongata shows large sclerites that project past the tentacles (Figure 59: Carpine & Grasshoff, 1975). Our specimens have long intertentacular sclerites that protrude past the semi-contracted tentacles by 50 ̄ 75 µm and have the same sclerite arrangement as seen in their image of I. elongata: 1) only long sclerites near the top of the polyp and the absence of the smaller sclerites often found there in other species, 2) a layer of shorter sclerites near the base of the polyp and a layer of long sclerites above those, which allows the polyp to bend towards the branch at the interface between short and long sclerites, and 3) slightly obliquely arranged sclerites up the polyp body. Branching has also been used to differentiate Acanella and Isidella (e. g. most recently Dueñas et al. 2014), with Acanella colonies considered to have some degree of bushiness while Isidella colonies are planar. Although A. furcata has planar dichotomous branching (Thomson, 1929), suggesting an Isidella growth form, at least four other Acanella species also have dichotomous branching and / or branch in a single plane. A. arbuscula is noted as sometimes having planar branching (Kükenthal, 1915 description of Wright and Studer, 1889 material). A. dispar is described as having dichotomous branching and being roughly planar (Bayer, 1990). A. gregori, in Gray’s (1870) original description, is indicated as having two branches arising from a single node, and A. microspiculata is described as occasionally planar (Aurivillius, 1931). Dichotomous and planar branching is included in the description of Acanella and is found periodically throughout the genus. We propose that Carpine and Grasshoff (1975) observed A. furcata and misidentified it as I. elongata and thus resurrect the species.	en	France, Scott C. (2017): A taxonomic review of the genus Acanella (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Isididae) in the North Atlantic Ocean, with descriptions of two new species. Zootaxa 4323 (3): 359-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4323.3.2
039D704E380EC23DFF1D62767C60F847.taxon	distribution	Distribution: Mediterranean Sea, 190 ̄ 1000 m depth.	en	France, Scott C. (2017): A taxonomic review of the genus Acanella (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Isididae) in the North Atlantic Ocean, with descriptions of two new species. Zootaxa 4323 (3): 359-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4323.3.2
039D704E3808C23AFF1D64A77DB5FA7F.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined: Holotype: Collected via trawl aboard R / V Pelican, 250 km west of Clearwater, Florida, USA 27.7523, - 85.3262. 657 ̄ 815 m depth. 7 July 2006. Station NSF-III- 0 72. Deposited in the National Museum of Natural History USNM 1416575. GenBank accession # GQ 245889, KX 270218.	en	France, Scott C. (2017): A taxonomic review of the genus Acanella (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Isididae) in the North Atlantic Ocean, with descriptions of two new species. Zootaxa 4323 (3): 359-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4323.3.2
039D704E3808C23AFF1D64A77DB5FA7F.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis: Acanella with upright (2 ̄ 3 mm) polyps with obliquely arranged, long (2 ̄ 3 mm), thick (100 µm) sclerites at the distal end of the polyp, which extend beyond base of contracted tentacles by up to 1 mm. Primary branching occurs at node in a whorl of two to four branches and secondary branching occurs dichotomously; nodes yellow-golden color.	en	France, Scott C. (2017): A taxonomic review of the genus Acanella (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Isididae) in the North Atlantic Ocean, with descriptions of two new species. Zootaxa 4323 (3): 359-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4323.3.2
039D704E3808C23AFF1D64A77DB5FA7F.taxon	description	Description: Colony bush-like with primary branching at nodes in a whorl of two to four branches and secondary dichotomous branching. Holotype is only a fragment of a colony, 5 cm tall and missing the base (Figure 13). Internodes cream to white in color, thin and delicate, measuring 0.5 ̄ 2 cm in length with shorter internodes being found on the main axis at base of colony. Anastomosis of branches not observed. Nodes yellow to golden color and sclerite free. Axis covered by a thin translucent coenenchyme. Coenenchymal sclerites thin needles covered with small tubercles 100 ̄ 235 µm (n = 75; mean = 125 µm ± 0.1 µm) in length. Polyps light yellow to cream (when preserved in ethanol) in color with darker concentration of color at the distal end (Figure 14). Polyps arise at 90 ° from the axis and have a thin attachment point. Polyps tubular with a slight bulge in the middle where they are at their widest (1 ̄ 1.5 mm in diameter). A tall crown of needles at the oral end of the polyp is due to the intertentacular sclerites protruding up to 1 mm past the weakly contracted tentacles (Figure 10). Polyp length varies from 2 ̄ 4 mm (n = 27; mean = 2.4 mm ± 0.02 mm) and width varies from 0.4 ̄ 1 mm (n = 27; mean = 0.76 mm ± 0.01 mm). Polyps sparse, with only one and rarely two polyps per internode, found on all sides of the branches and at the terminal ends of the branchlets. Sclerites found in polyp body wall large and thick and range from 500 µm ̄ 3 mm in length (Figure 14). Smaller sclerites found densely packed at the base of the polyp and larger sclerites appear mid-polyp and twist obliquely up polyp body. Eight large sclerites protrude 1 mm past the base of the tentacles. Tentacles weakly contracted and fold over the oral disk. Sclerites along the backs of the tentacles range in size from 150 ̄ 300 µm (n = 82; mean = 167 µm ± 0.02 µm). DNA sequences derived from mtMusS - 5 ’ (GenBank accession # GQ 245889) and 18 S (KX 270218) differ from other North Atlantic Acanella Haplotypes by at least 0.54 % (7 nucleotide substitutions across 1277 sites).	en	France, Scott C. (2017): A taxonomic review of the genus Acanella (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Isididae) in the North Atlantic Ocean, with descriptions of two new species. Zootaxa 4323 (3): 359-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4323.3.2
039D704E3808C23AFF1D64A77DB5FA7F.taxon	etymology	Etymology: Named in honor of Aurelia Noel Saucier, who was born during the synthesis of this manuscript, and as an allusion to the yellow to golden nodes the coral possesses.	en	France, Scott C. (2017): A taxonomic review of the genus Acanella (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Isididae) in the North Atlantic Ocean, with descriptions of two new species. Zootaxa 4323 (3): 359-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4323.3.2
039D704E3808C23AFF1D64A77DB5FA7F.taxon	discussion	Remarks: This species is described from a single specimen collected by trawl in the Gulf of Mexico. It is the lone specimen in our collection with sequence Haplotype B. Morphologically it differs from A. arbuscula in that the polyps are not as tall and the intertentacular sclerites make up half the body length of the polyp.	en	France, Scott C. (2017): A taxonomic review of the genus Acanella (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Isididae) in the North Atlantic Ocean, with descriptions of two new species. Zootaxa 4323 (3): 359-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4323.3.2
039D704E3808C23AFF1D64A77DB5FA7F.taxon	distribution	Distribution: Gulf of Mexico, 657 ̄ 815 m depth.	en	France, Scott C. (2017): A taxonomic review of the genus Acanella (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Isididae) in the North Atlantic Ocean, with descriptions of two new species. Zootaxa 4323 (3): 359-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4323.3.2
039D704E380AC239FF1D60467BCCF88A.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined: Holotype: Collected via trawl aboard NOAA Ship Ronald H. Brown, Norfolk Canyon, Atlantic Ocean, 36.8993 - 74.4586, 1670 ̄ 1694 m depth, 7 May 2013, Station RB- 13 - 030, Specimen ID # TR 03010. Deposited in the National Museum of Natural History; USNM 1416576. GenBank accession # KX 270225, KX 270214. Paratype: Collected via trawl aboard NOAA Ship Ronald H. Brown, Norfolk Canyon, Atlantic Ocean, 36.8993 - 74.4586, 1670 ̄ 1694 m depth, 7 May 2013, Station RB- 13 - 030, Specimen ID # TR 03033. Deposited in the National Museum of Natural History; USNM 1416577. Other material: Three specimens collected via trawl aboard NOAA Ship Ronald H. Brown, Norfolk Canyon, 36.8993 - 74.4586, 1670 - 1694 m depth, 7 May 2013, Station RB- 13 - 030, Specimen ID # s TR 03047, TR 03044, TR 03049.	en	France, Scott C. (2017): A taxonomic review of the genus Acanella (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Isididae) in the North Atlantic Ocean, with descriptions of two new species. Zootaxa 4323 (3): 359-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4323.3.2
039D704E380AC239FF1D60467BCCF88A.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis: Acanella with 3 ̄ 4 mm tall polyps. Polyps densely packed with needle-like sclerites running longitudinally up body wall. Body sclerites do not extend to tentacles, leaving distal portion of polyp exposed. Colony has a lobed, root-like holdfast. Primary branching is commonly in whorls of four and secondary branching is in whorls of two.	en	France, Scott C. (2017): A taxonomic review of the genus Acanella (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Isididae) in the North Atlantic Ocean, with descriptions of two new species. Zootaxa 4323 (3): 359-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4323.3.2
039D704E380AC239FF1D60467BCCF88A.taxon	description	Description: Colonies bush-like (Figure 15) with primary branching at the node, commonly in whorls of four, and secondary branching dichotomous. Colonies range from 15 ̄ 22 cm in length and have a lobed root-like holdfast. Internodes cream to white in color, 0.5 ̄ 1.5 cm in length, and longitudinally ribbed; on main axis internodes at base of colony shorter than those at distal tips. Anastomosis of branches was not observed. Nodes orange to dark brown. Axis covered by thin, pale-orange to red coenenchyme when alive. Coenenchymal sclerites are 75 – 212 µm (n = 100; mean = 132 µm ± 0.02 µm) in length, needle-like and covered with small spines. Polyps when alive are red to brown in color (Figure 16) and brown to dark brown when preserved in ethanol. Polyps tall (3 ̄ 4 mm; n = 95; mean = 3.82 mm ± 0.01 mm) and thin (0.25 – 0.5 mm; n = 95; mean = 0.37 mm ± 0.04 mm) with a distally tubular shape, where tentacles are contracted over oral disk. Polyps arise 45 ° ̄ 90 ° from axis and alternately arranged on the branch, and also present on terminal ends of branchlets. Sclerites of polyp body long and needle-like (Figure 16) and range in length from 648 µm ̄ 2.2 mm (n = 100; mean = 782 µm ± 0.02 µm); they are densely packed and placed longitudinally up the proximal part of the polyp body, stopping just short of the tentacles to leave the distal part of the polyp exposed but for the tentacular sclerites. Intertentacular sclerites not observed. Tentacular sclerites consist of small rods with small spines ranging from 10 ̄ 200 µm (n = 100; mean = 67 µm ± 0.01 µm). DNA sequences derived from mtMusS - 5 ’ (GenBank accession # KX 270225) and 18 S (KX 270214) differ from other North Atlantic Acanella Haplotypes by at least 0.20 % (4 nucleotide substitutions across 1955 sites).	en	France, Scott C. (2017): A taxonomic review of the genus Acanella (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Isididae) in the North Atlantic Ocean, with descriptions of two new species. Zootaxa 4323 (3): 359-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4323.3.2
039D704E380AC239FF1D60467BCCF88A.taxon	etymology	Etymology: Named in honor of Scarlet Nola Saucier, who was born during the synthesis of this manuscript, and in allusion to the orange to red coenenchyme and polyps.	en	France, Scott C. (2017): A taxonomic review of the genus Acanella (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Isididae) in the North Atlantic Ocean, with descriptions of two new species. Zootaxa 4323 (3): 359-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4323.3.2
039D704E380AC239FF1D60467BCCF88A.taxon	discussion	Remarks: Colonies with Haplotype G (Figure 16) have been found only along the rim of Norfolk Canyon off the coast of the eastern United States. They were collected via trawl along with several A. arbuscula (Haplotype A) colonies. Acanella scarletae differs morphologically from other Acanella species by their lack of intertentacular sclerites. We suspect they live in soft fine mud based on their root-like holdfast and the other organisms collected in the same trawl. Anemones, polychaetes, and brittle stars were found within the branches of the colonies. Distribution: Norfolk Canyon off the coast of eastern United States, 1670 ̄ 1694 m depth.	en	France, Scott C. (2017): A taxonomic review of the genus Acanella (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Isididae) in the North Atlantic Ocean, with descriptions of two new species. Zootaxa 4323 (3): 359-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4323.3.2
