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.

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

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

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.

Zoantharians not identified to family level

Zoantharia spp.

Fig. 6C View Fig .

MATERIAL. LV-75-22, 55.5100ºN 167.3240ºE – 55.5087ºN 167.3236ºE, depth 3561– 3545 m, several specimens photographed.

LV-82-5, 55.2616ºN 167.3025ºE – 55.2647ºN 167.3014ºE, depth 3931– 3879 m, one specimen photographed; LV-82-10, 55.2879°N 167.3014ºE,

depth 2807 m; 55.2882ºN 167.3011ºE,depth 2778 m, one specimen photographed.

REMARKS. Small white specimens on stones were photographed in the abyssal zone. On the southern slope of the Vulcanologov Massif, two species have been recorded: a group of at least 7 specimens with a long column covered with sediment particles ( Fig. 6C View Fig ), and solitary specimens with a short white column. Another smaller species with a short white column occurs in small groups on the northern slope of the Vulcanologov Massif.