Coralliophilinae (Gastropoda: Muricidae) associated with deep-water coral banks in the Mediterranean

Abstract

Fisheries and scientific investigations of the recently discovered deep-water coral province south of Malta sampled living specimens of two deep-water Coralliophilinae intimately associated with Lophelia-Madrepora coral banks. The species are "Coralliophila" richardi (Fischer P., 1882) and Babelomurex sentix (Bayer, 1971). A third coralliophilinid "Coralliophila" squamosa (Bivona Ant. in Bivoria And., 1838: deep-water morphotype) has been also observed alive close to deep-water corals at the Nameless-Urania Bank.