NOAA Okeanos Explorer
Info
The first identification of the deep sea gorgonian was under the name Stenella gigantea and was published in the "Report on the Alcyonaria collected by H.M.S. Challenger during the years 1873-76 on page 57.
The description named a colony of 52cm at that time, this length is also known from more recent publications.
Meanwhile the following deep sea distribution areas are known
- Northwestern Hawaiii Island
- south of Wake Island
- Northern Mariana Islands,
- Fiji Plateau
The previously reported depth range of 384 meters, based on the depth range of the type locality, cannot be used as a definitive depth range.
Using a more conservative "confirmed" depth range (i.e., the range from the deepest to the deepest shallow component of a trawl) results in a depth range of 1115-2211 m for this species.
The species name "gigantea" probably refers to the Latin word "gigantus" meaning the giant, which will refer to the length of the coral.
Synonym: Stenella gigantea Wright & Studer, 1889 ·
The description named a colony of 52cm at that time, this length is also known from more recent publications.
Meanwhile the following deep sea distribution areas are known
- Northwestern Hawaiii Island
- south of Wake Island
- Northern Mariana Islands,
- Fiji Plateau
The previously reported depth range of 384 meters, based on the depth range of the type locality, cannot be used as a definitive depth range.
Using a more conservative "confirmed" depth range (i.e., the range from the deepest to the deepest shallow component of a trawl) results in a depth range of 1115-2211 m for this species.
The species name "gigantea" probably refers to the Latin word "gigantus" meaning the giant, which will refer to the length of the coral.
Synonym: Stenella gigantea Wright & Studer, 1889 ·
