Epizoanthus sp.

Epizoanthus sp.

Fig. 6B View Fig .

MATERIAL. AMK-22-2311, submersible Mir-1, dive 6/50, 55.4163°N 167.2816°E, depth 358 m, sample 1, 80 specimens collected. GoogleMaps

LV-75-2, 55.4169ºN 167.2755ºE, depth 381 m, several specimens photographed; GoogleMaps LV-75-3, 55. 4160ºN 167.2732ºE – 55.4161ºN 167.2739ºE, depth 382– 351 m, many specimens photographed; GoogleMaps LV-75-8, 55.4162ºN 167.2736ºE, depth 378 m, many specimens photographed; GoogleMaps LV-75-9, 55.4155ºN 167. 2736ºE – 55.4161ºN 167.2742ºE, depth 394– 349 m, many specimens photographed. GoogleMaps

LV-82-1, 55.4165ºN 167.2767ºE – 55.4160ºN 167.2743ºE, depth 382– 349 m, many specimens collected (sample 7) and many specimens photographed; GoogleMaps LV-82-2, 55.4160ºN 167.2769ºE, depth 372 m, many specimens photographed; GoogleMaps LV-82-4, 55.3809ºN 167.2604ºE, depth 478 m, several specimens collected (sample 4) and many specimens photographed. GoogleMaps

REMARKS. The species forms continuous “carpets”, often near the settlements of Sagartiogeton rufus , on the most shallow-water zone of the northern top of the Piip Volcano from 349 to 394 m. The number of specimens reaches 60–70 per square decimeter, some of them were collected. Their zooids are yellow-orange, with cylindrical column up to 2–3 cm in height, encrusted with sediment particles and foraminifers; the tentacles are organized in two cycles. S. rufus and zoantharians are similar in size and color, are often located next to each other and can be confused. However, the settlements of S. rufus are sparser and other species can settle among them, while there are almost no other species of sea anemones among the zoantharians. Settlements of zoantharians were also recorded on the southern top of the Piip Volcano, but they are less numerous there. The deepest record is 478 m on the southern top of the Piip Volcano.