New records of the genus Callogorgia (Anthozoa: Octocorallia) in the western Atlantic, including the description of a new species

Abstract

Based on material collected during oceanographic campaigns in the western Atlantic from 1958 to 2011, two species of primnoid octocorals belonging to the genus Callogorgia were identified: Callogorgia americana and Callogorgia arawak sp. nov. These species are described and illustrated herein and their geographic and bathymetric are given. This is the first record of the genus in the south-western Atlantic. Additionally, the elevation of C. americana americana and C. a. delta to species level is proposed, keeping Callogorgia gilberti, C. delta and C. americana as separate species.