BULLETIN OF MARINE SCIENCE, 77(2): 225?256, 2005
225Bulletin of Marine Science
? 2005 Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science 
of the University of Miami
NEW TAXA PAPER
A REVIEW OF THE GENUS PRIMNOA (OCTOCORALLIA: 
GORGONACEA: PRIMNOIDAE), WITH THE 
DESCRIPTION OF TWO NEW SPECIES
Stephen D. Cairns and Frederick M. Bayer
ABSTRACT
The four species and one additional variety of the genus Primnoa are revised, 
including descriptions and illustrations of all taxa. Two new species are described, 
Primnoa wingi from the Aleutian Islands and Primnoa notialis from the Subantarc-
tic. Primnoa willeyi Hickson, 1915 is considered to be a variety of Primnoa paci?ca 
Kinoshita, 1907. Primnoa is known to occur in the northern boreal Atlantic and 
Paci?c and Subantarctic South Paci?c at depths of 9?1029 m. It is particularly com-
mon throughout the Aleutian Islands, where it is often a bycatch of ?shery trawling 
and sometimes made into jewelry.
Primnoidae is probably the dominant gorgonian family in the Antarctic fauna, rep-
resented by many species in the genera Thouarella, Primnoella, Convexella, Narella, 
Dasystenella, Parastenella, Callozostron, Ainigmaptilon, Fannyella, Ophidiogorgia, 
and Armadillogorgia. However, until now Primnoa, the type genus of the family, 
has been known only from boreal and cold northern temperate waters. Operations 
by USNS ELTANIN in Antarctic waters during 1964 obtained representatives of the 
genus from a seamount in the Subantarctic Paci?c sector of the Southern Ocean. 
These have made it necessary to reevaluate the northern forms in order to determine 
the status of the Antarctic population. In doing so, the three previous taxa were re-
viewed and another species described from the Aleutian Islands.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
As the procedure for preparation of primnoid polyps with sclerites in place for examination 
by scanning electron microscope (SEM) has already been outlined (Bayer and Stefani, 1989: 
451) it is unnecessary to do so again. However, because preparations of whole polyps and 
fragments of branches retain a large amount of dried organic material, deterioration might 
be expected to limit the durability of such mounts. Reexamination of old preparations to 
obtain additional views of polyps has shown that specimens mounted more than 20 yrs ago 
still give satisfactory results with SEM. This ?nding demonstrates that whole mounts for SEM 
remain useful for a considerable period of time and therefore merit long-term conservation. 
It should be noted that the material referred to above was not stored under any special condi-
tions. Apart from protecting them from accumulation of dust, no unusual procedures were 
employed. Presumably, storage in sealed containers with desiccant would further extend du-
rability of SEM whole mounts.
Twenty-two of the more recently collected samples of Primnoa, representing all ?ve taxa, 
were submitted to S. France (University of Louisiana at Lafayette) for sequencing of the mi-
tochondrial msh1 gene. He was successful in sequencing 13 specimens, which are indicated 
with an asterisk in the material examined sections: msh1, region 1 (about 800 bp): two sam-
ples; msh1, region 1 (about 340 bp): seven samples; and msh1, region 2 (about 300 bp): 10 
samples. Sequences were obtained from four of the ?ve taxa; none of which were obtained 
for Primnoa notialis. Additional specimens (one each of Primnoa paci?ca Kinoshita, 1907, 
Primnoa paci?ca willeyi Hickson, 1915, and Primnoa wingi sp. nov. from the Aleutian Ridge, 
and Primnoa resedaeformis (Gunnerus, 1763) from the Gulf of Maine), freshly collected spe-
BULLETIN OF MARINE SCIENCE, VOL. 77, NO. 2, 2005226
ci?cally for genetic analysis by S. France, were ampli?ed and sequenced to compare to the 
results from the older museum specimens. Although msh1 has been used successfully as a 
species level marker for some octocorals (France and Hoover, 2001; Lepard, 2003), all se-
quences obtained from these samples were identical within regions 1 and 2 (GenBank acces-
sion numbers AY968599-AY968601). This could be interpreted to mean that all four taxa are 
the same species, that the msh1 gene is not e?ective for discriminating species of Primnoa 
(see Lepard, 2003), or that a longer sequence is needed to show a di?erence. Given the ex-
treme and consistent morphological di?erences among the putative Primnoa species and, in 
some cases, the vast unpopulated geographic distance between populations, and the evidence 
that mitochondrial mutation rate is extremely low in octocorals (France and Hoover, 2002; 
Shearer et al., 2002), we adopt the latter point of view. We suggest using a nuclear marker (S. 
France, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, pers. comm.) for future study.
The following abbreviations are used in the text: AB ? Auke Bay Lab (NOAA), Juneau, Alas-
ka (the following numbers are the last two numbers of the year of collection); Alb ? USFCS 
ALBATROSS; BMNH ? British Museum of Natural History, London (now The Natural History 
Museum); MCZ ? Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard, Cambridge; SEM ? Scanning 
Electron Microscope stub number (unprefaced number pertains to series of Bayer, ?C? to series 
of Cairns); USNM ? U.S. National Museum (now the National Museum of Natural History), 
Smithsonian, Washington, D. C.
Subclass Octocorallia
Order Gorgonacea
Suborder Calcaxonia
Family Primnoidae Gray, 1858
Primnoa Lamouroux, 1812
Primnoa Lamouroux, 1812: 188; 1816: 442.?K?kenthal, 1919: 357?360; 1924: 265?266 (refer-
ences).?Bayer, 1956: F220, ?g. 157, 1.
Lithoprimnoa Grube, 1861: 174?175.
Type species.?Primnoa: Gorgonia lepadifera Linnaeus, 1767 (=Gorgonia resedaeformis Gun-
nerus, 1763), by monotypy.
Lithoprimnoa: Lithoprimnoa arctica Grube, 1861, by monotypy.
Diagnosis.?Dichotomously branched, arborescent Primnoidae with polyps not 
arranged in whorls but closely crowded on all sides of the twigs and branches; pol-
yps distinctly curved downward toward the axis. Polyps adaxially naked or nearly 
so, abaxially armed with scales or plates of variable size, shape, and arrangement. 
Marginal scales eight, those of the adaxial side of the polyp smaller than those of the 
abaxial side and may be only indistinctly di?erentiated. Operculum strongly devel-
oped, the adaxial pair of scales smaller than the abaxials and laterals. Tentacles with 
small, thorny rods.
Remarks.?K?kenthal (1919) recognized only one species of Primnoa, P. resedae-
formis, and a variety of it, P. paci?ca, a view shared by Madsen (1944). K?kenthal 
later (1924: 267) treated P. paci?ca as a subspecies of the North Atlantic P. rese-
daeformis: ?P. resedaeformis typica.? Both K?kenthal (1924) and Aurivillius (1931) 
treated P. willeyi as a dubious species, the former considering it probably synony-
mous with P. resedaeformis.
Broch (1935: 29?33) discussed the status of P. paci?ca relative to P. resedaeformis, 
concluding that the Paci?c species is a geographical form of the Atlantic species. His 
CAIRNS AND BAYER: REVIEW OF THE OCTOCORALLIAN GENUS PRIMNOA 227
investigation of Norwegian specimens from Trandhjemsfjord showed that the vari-
ability of polyp scales is considerably less than in Paci?c colonies, and that strongly 
developed ?Basalscleriten? are almost never (?fast nie?) seen in Norwegian colonies.
While visiting the Natural History Museum, London, FMB was able to make a 
drawing of a branch of Hickson?s original material of P. willeyi (Fig. 7C). No type ma-
terial of P. paci?ca is available to us, but samples collected in Japanese waters agree 
with Kinoshita?s description in most respects and may be taken as representative of 
his concept. 
Specimens of Primnoa trawled in the Paci?c sector of the Southern Ocean by 
USNS ELTANIN are the ?rst record of the genus from Subantarctic waters, although 
this taxon was reported as a nomen nudum by Heikoop et al. (2002) and Risk et al. 
(2002). This material demonstrates unequivocally the bipolarity of the genus Prim-
noa. The few North Paci?c specimens available for study show consistent di?erences 
from North Atlantic specimens. The numerous specimens from three stations in 
the Southern Ocean likewise di?er somewhat from both North Paci?c and North 
Atlantic specimens.
Kinoshita (1908a) already has remarked upon the Narella-like development of the 
basal scales in P. paci?ca. Paci?c specimens of Primnoa in the present collection 
carry the similarity of the two genera even further. Polyps of a very young colony 
from the Alexander Archipelago of southern Alaska (USNM 58397) are enclosed in a 
pair of large, Narella-like basal scales that form a pair of projecting ?at horns, a pair 
of somewhat smaller medial scales, and a circle of buccal scales of which the abaxial 
pair commonly are the largest. These polyps (Fig. 5A?B, USNM 58397) have a strik-
ingly Narella-like aspect, closely approaching in form the polyps of those Narella 
species having strongly developed adaxial buccal scales, such as Narella megalepis 
(Kinoshita, 1908). The most obvious distinction of Primnoa from Narella is the pres-
ence of more than four scales in the buccal ring, and the crowded, non-verticillate 
arrangement of polyps.
Most polyps of North Atlantic colonies of P. resedaeformis have two main rows 
of large abaxial scales between the marginal scales and the basal scales, the latter 
of which are not strongly developed and not especially conspicuous. The polyps of 
Paci?c colonies have more numerous, more or less irregularly placed scales between 
the marginal and basal scales, which usually maintain or increase their size to a 
variable extent, commonly projecting outward as a pair of strong processes or ?at 
spines.
Although interbreeding populations could be expected to exist around the north-
ern perimeters of the North Paci?c and North Atlantic, it is not known at present 
whether or not the two areas are linked by a continuous population around the Polar 
Sea (see Broch, 1949). Similarly, it is not known whether or not a continuous popu-
lation extends from the North Paci?c to the South Paci?c. Not all possible locali-
ties have been sampled by dredge or observed by submersible at appropriate depths. 
However, the broad scope of explorations at low latitudes in both Paci?c and Atlantic 
Oceans over the past century might have been expected to discover evidence of in-
termediate populations had such existed.
BULLETIN OF MARINE SCIENCE, VOL. 77, NO. 2, 2005228
KEY TO SPECIES AND VARIETIES OF PRIMNOA
1 . Basal scales of most polyps larger than medials, and usually with a prominent marginal spine 
(Narella-type scale) .......................................................................................................(P. paci?ca) 2
1?. Basal scales roughly the same size as medials, never with marginal spines .............................3 
2 . Polyps long and ?eshy, often twisted and lacking sclerites on lateral edges of polyps; ratio of 
mid- to distal polyp diameter 0.25?0.43 ..................................................... P. paci?ca var. willeyi
2?. Polyps more robust, straight, with small body wall sclerites on lateral surfaces of polyps; 
ratio of mid-distal polyp diameter 0.53?0.67 ....................................................P. paci?ca typical 
3 . Abaxial medial scales large (to 1.5 mm wide), rectangular, and arranged in 2?5 pairs ...........  
 .......................................................................................................................................P. resedaeformis
3?. Abaxial medial scales smaller, elongate or elliptical, not arranged in pairs .............................4
4 . Medial scales elongate and slender (< 0.2 mm wide), restricted to a narrow abaxial tract that 
is immersed in tissue; operculars spatulate; marginals extremely concave; tentacular rods 
large and often curved; Aleutians ...........................................................................P. wingi sp. nov.
4?. Medial scales elliptical to square (up to 1.0 mm wide), covering abaxial and lateral polyp 
surface; operculars isosceles-triangular; marginals ?at; tentacular rods smaller and straight; 
Subantarctic .............................................................................................................P. notialis sp. nov.
Primnoa resedaeformis (Gunnerus, 1763)
(Figs. 1A, 2, 3)
Gorgonia resedaeformis Gunnerus, 1763: 321?329, pl. 9, ?gs. 1?2 (type locality: coast of Nor-
way).
Gorgonia reseda Pallas, 1766: 204 (type locality: Norwegian Sea).?Gray, 1870: 44?45.
Gorgonia lepadifera Linnaeus, 1767: 1289 (type locality: Norwegian Sea).?Ellis and Solander, 
1786: 84?85, pl. 13, ?gs. 1?2.?Esper, 1788, pl. 18, ?gs. 1?2 (polyps incorrectly illustrated 
as pointed up!).?Esper, 1791: 71?78 (extensive synonymy).?Houttuyn, 1792: 301?309.?
Lamarck, 1815: 164.?Johnston, 1838: 185; 1847: 171?173, ?g. 37.?Milne Edwards and 
Haime, 1857: 1: 139?140.?Grassho?, 1991: 335.
Primnoa lepadifera.?Lamouroux, 1816: 442?443 (cites early literature, including pre-Lin-
naean).
Lithoprimnoa arctica Grube, 1861: 175, pl. 3, ?gs. 1?6 (type locality: o? arctic Norway).
Primnoa reseda.?Verrill, 1862: 127?129; 1864: 9?10.?Versluys, 1906: 85.?Thomson, 1907: 
65?72, pls. 1, 2 (photo of colony, and illustration of color in life).?Verrill, 1922: 14?15 (in 
part: pl. 4, ?gs. 4?6, not specimen from British Columbia; synonymy).?Opresko, 1980: 
B17?B18.
Primnoa resedaeformis.?Broch, 1912: 32?37, ?gs. 21?25 (synonymy; reproduces Gunnerus? 
original ?gure).?Schimbke, 1915: 17?22, text-?g. 4, pl. 1, ?gs. 1?2 (histology).?Jungersen, 
1915: 1181?1183.?K?kenthal, 1919: 360?361 (synonymy!); 1924: 266?267, ?g. 151.?Au-
rivillius, 1931: 293, ?g. 58, 1?3.?Kramp, 1932: 16, ?g. 7.?Deichmann, 1936: 157.?Kramp, 
1939: 4.?Bayer, Grassho? and Verseveldt, 1983: pl. 13, ?g. 64.?Grassho? and Zibrowius, 
1983: 121?122, pl. 3, ?gs. 12?13.?Breeze et al. 1997: 22, ?g. 9.?Heikoop et al. 2002: 117?
123 (in part: specimens from N. Atlantic, isotopic paleotemperatures).?Risk, Heikoop, and 
Beukens, 2002: 126?130, ?gs. 1?6 (mineralogy, growth rate, longevity).?Willison, et al. 
2002: pl. 1 (lower left), pl. 5 (upper), pl. 6.
Primnoa resedaeformis typica K?kenthal, 1924: 267.
Primnoae [sic] resedaeformis.?Madsen, 1944: 39 (in part: N. Atlantic records only).
CAIRNS AND BAYER: REVIEW OF THE OCTOCORALLIAN GENUS PRIMNOA 229
Figure 1. A, Primnoa resedaeformis, complete colony, USNM 4591, ?0.19; B, Primnoa paci?ca, 
USNM 56993, distal branches, ?0.35; C?D, P. paci?ca var. willeyi, USNM 44058, polished cross 
and longitudinal sections of a large-diameter stem, ?0.52, ?0.68, respectively; E, P. p. var. wil-
leyi, large dry colony (USNM 58084), ?0.06; F, P. notialis, USNM 87625 (paratype), heavily 
calci?ed base, ?0.16; G, P. notialis, USNM 87621 (holotype), ?0.20; H, P. wingi, USNM 1012503 
(paratype), distal branches, ?0.22; I, P. wingi, USNM 1010257 (holotype), dried colony, ?0.13.
BULLETIN OF MARINE SCIENCE, VOL. 77, NO. 2, 2005230
Material Examined.?ALB-2068, one large colony in alcohol and SEM stubs 1423?
1426, USNM 16946 and one dry colony, USNM 33577; ALB-2069, one colony in alco-
hol and SEM stubs 175, 185, USNM 17281; ALB-2070, one dry colony, USNM 33579; 
ALB-2072, two dry colonies without polyps, USNM 15875; ALB-2474, one branch 
in alcohol, USNM 11944; ALB-2480, one branch without polyps in alcohol, USNM 
11942; ALB-2523, one branch in alcohol, USNM 11935; ALB-2527, 2?3 branches in 
alcohol and SEM stubs 1813?1823, C1117?1119, USNM 12262; ALB IV-00-06-23, 
two colonies in alcohol, USNM 1024423; EASTWARD 35982, one branch in alcohol 
and SEM stub 2554, USNM 80927; EASTWARD 36016, one branch in alcohol, *USNM 
80929; GILLISS 7404-104, one large dry colony, *USNM 54269.
Nineteen lots from the northwest Atlantic, from Banquereau and Browns Bank 
o? Nova Scotia south to Georges Bank o? Massachusetts at 165?548 m, taken by 
the Gloucester ?shing ?eet 1879?1880 and numbered as ?Gloucester donations:? 
52, two dry colonies without polyps, USNM 4593; 66, one dry colony without pol-
yps, USNM 4742; 194, one dry colony without polyps, USNM 4282; 322, one dry 
colony, USNM 4097; 346, two dry colonies, USNM 4285 and 4288; 347, one colony 
in alcohol, USNM 4142; 370, two dry colonies, USNM 4592; 383, two dry colonies, 
USNM 4589; 392, three dry colonies, USNM 4582; 485, seven dry colonies, USNM 
4591 and 33580; 505, one dry colony, USNM 33576; 534, branches in alcohol, USNM 
21837; 557, two dry colonies, USNM 4524; 683, one dry colony, USNM 4553; 733, one 
dry colony without polyps, USNM 4224; 752, two dry colonies, USNM 4544; 785, 
two dry colonies without polyps, USNM 4534; 797, one dry colony without polyps, 
USNM 4258; 869, one dry colony, USNM 4548.
Ten colonies are also deposited at the MCZ, most collected by the ALBATROSS IV 
expeditions between Banquereau Bank and Norfolk Canyon, 144?275 m (not exam-
ined). 
Diagnosis.?Both basal and medial scales large, square to rectangular, about the 
same size; basal scales without marginal spines; medial scales prominent, occurring 
in 2?5 pairs. Six large and two small, ?at, rectangular marginal scales.
Short Description (based primarily on northwest Atlantic specimens).?Colonies 
planar to slightly bushy (arborescent); loosely and dichotomously branched; largest 
colonies up to 2 m in height with a massive basal main stem diameter up to 5.5 cm. 
Color in life bright pink. Terminal branches 9?11 mm in diameter. Polyps up to 6.0 
mm in length and 3.2 mm in distal diameter, slightly ?ared (ratio of mid- to distal 
polyp diameter 0.6?0.7), and directed predominantly downward. Polyps densely and 
randomly arranged on all sides of branches, any free space on a branch soon occu-
pied with a small developing polyp. Body wall scales consist of a pair of abaxial ba-
sals, 2?5 pairs of abaxial medials, and eight marginals. Body wall sclerites above this 
number usually the result of breakage. Basal scales square to rectangular in shape, 
slightly curved to encircle the greater circumference of the base of the polyp, and up 
to 2.0 mm in width, lacking marginal spines. Medials similar to basals, but ?at and 
usually slightly smaller, the maximum size about 1.5 mm in width. Usually six large 
(up to 2.1 mm in height and 1.6 mm in width) rectangular marginals present in ab-
axial and lateral positions, one or two pairs of smaller scales occurring beneath each 
inner lateral marginal. Adaxial marginals smaller (1.0 mm in width), squarish, and 
often occurring as two pairs. All body wall scales granular above and tuberculate 
below, with a digitiform basal margin. Opercular scales isosceles-triangular in shape 
with a blunt apex and occasionally slightly constricted one third distance from the 
CAIRNS AND BAYER: REVIEW OF THE OCTOCORALLIAN GENUS PRIMNOA 231
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BULLETIN OF MARINE SCIENCE, VOL. 77, NO. 2, 2005232
Figure 3. Primnoa resedaeformis, constituent sclerites from a colony from Alb-2527 (USNM 
12262): A, opercular scales; B, granulation and edge serration of outer surface of an opercular 
scale; C, outer and inner surfaces of marginal scales; D, inner and outer surface of basal scales; E, 
body wall scales; F, H, coenenchymal scales and tubercles on inner side; G, tentacular rods. Scale 
bars: A, C?E = 1 mm, F = 0.5 mm (lower right = 0.17 mm), B = 0.2 mm, G?H = 0.05 mm. 
CAIRNS AND BAYER: REVIEW OF THE OCTOCORALLIAN GENUS PRIMNOA 233
base; lateral and apical edges ?nely serrate, edge of base produced into 5?7 slender 
lobes. Abaxial opercular up to 2.1 mm in height and 0.85 mm in basal width, the 
adaxial operculars being smaller. Middle to distal third of inner side of operculars 
bears a low blunt keel; tubercles present on lower half of inner side, whereas small 
granules (30 ?m in height) are aligned in parallel rows on distal third. Outer surface 
of operculars covered with rounded granules that radiate from lower mid-line. Ten-
tacles ?lled with small (up to 0.18 mm in length and usually 0.045 mm in diameter), 
cylindrical, blunt-tipped, longitudinally arranged, straight rods that are uniformly 
covered with tuberculate granules about 10 ?m in diameter. Coenenchymal sclerites 
elongate, ?at, often irregularly-shaped (straight, crescent-shaped, or irregular) scales 
up to 1.15 mm in length, granular above and tuberculate below.
Remarks.?Primnoa resedaeformis has been known since the early days of science, 
having been poorly described but remarkably well illustrated as early as 1605 by Clu-
sius and described under at least four di?erent names (see synonymy). It is one of the 
most often reported deep-water octocorals, probably because it is found in relatively 
shallow-water ?shing beds and occurs o? northern Europe, an active region for early 
taxonomic descriptions of all kinds. Although the synonymy is long, it is certainly 
not complete, including only those references of historical, taxonomic, and biological 
value. One of the best English descriptions is that of Aurivillius (1931), however our 
illustrations are believed to be the ?rst detailed SEM of the sclerites and polyps of 
this important species.
Young polyps, which occur on the coenenchyme between fully developed indi-
viduals, have four pairs of large abaxial scales and a number of smaller scales around 
the oral end of the body in their early stages. Subsequently, the latter probably dif-
ferentiate into opercular, lateral, and adaxial marginal scales.
According to Breeze et al. (1997), this species is known to Canadian ?sherman 
under the common names of: seacorn, popcorn coral, bush coral, and spruce trees.
Distribution.?Eastern Atlantic: o? the coast of Norway from 70?N (Kramp, 
1939) to the coast of Scotland, Faroe Islands, Iceland; 95?1020 m (Grassho? and 
Zibrowius, 1983); reputed to occur o? Setubal, Portugal (Gray, 1870), but this record 
is uncon?rmed. Western Atlantic: west coast of Greenland to 63?N (Kramp, 1939); 
Banquereau Bank; Nova Scotia; Sable Island Bank; Browns Bank; Gulf of Maine (Ver-
rill, 1922); Georges Bank; Lydonia, Oceanographer and Baltimore Canyons; south to 
o? Virginia Beach, Virginia (37?03?N) (Heikoop et al., 2002); 91?548 m.
Primnoa paci?ca Kinoshita, 1907
(Figs. 1B, 4?6)
Primnoa paci?ca Kinoshita, 1907: 232 (type locality: Mochiyama, Sagami Bay, depth unknown); 
1908a: 42?45, text-?gs. 8?9, pl. 3, ?gs. 19?20, pl. 6, ?g. 49; 1908b: pl. 18, ?g. 3; 1909: 2?3, 
text ?g.?Wing and Barnard, 2004: 24, ?g. 15.
Primnoa resedaeformis var. paci?ca.?K?kenthal, 1915: 146; 1919: 361?362.?Aurivillius, 1931: 
295?296 (Sagami Misaki, Okinose, 600 m).
Primnoa japonica Verrill, 1922: 15 (nom. nud.).
Primnoa resedaeformis paci?ca.?K?kenthal, 1924: 267, ?g. 152.
Primnoa resedaeformis forma paci?ca.?Broch, 1935: 29?33, ?gs. 17a?e, 18a (Okhotsk Sea, 
335 m; Tatar Sound, 600?700 m; Japan Sea, 780?832 m); Broch, 1940: 20?21.?Naumov, 
1955: 66, pl. 11, ?g. 5.
BULLETIN OF MARINE SCIENCE, VOL. 77, NO. 2, 2005234
Primnoa resedaeformis.?Andrews et al. 2002: 101?110, ?gs. 1?3 (age and growth estimates).?
Heikoop et al. 2002: 119 (in part: specimen from Prince William Sound, mineralogy).
?Primnoa sp. Cimberg et al. 1981: 13?16, ?gs. 2?3, 5?7.?Heifetz, 2002: 22 (conservation).?
Krieger and Wing, 2002: 83?90 (faunal associations).?Krieger, 2002: 106?115, ?gs. 1?5 
(conservation).
Material Examined.?ALB-4239, ?ve dichotomous branches and fragments of 
a large colony, dry, USNM 58396, and one young dry colony, USNM 58397; ALB-
4329, one incomplete dry specimen possibly only a branch of a large colony, SEM 
1390, USNM 57557; ALB-4982, six branches from a large colony in alcohol, SEM 
1391, USNM 56993; RV MILLER FREEMAN 93-9-10, one large dry branch, possibly 
of large colony, SEM 2533, USNM 1006140; north of Hinomisaki, Shimane Prefec-
ture, Honshu, Sea of Japan, 145 m, coll. Katsuchiyo Ito, Japan Sea Fisheries Research 
Laboratory, 1956, one branch with four bifurcations, obviously from a much larger 
colony, preserved dry, SEM 1639-1642, USNM 85281; Okushiri Island, o? south-
western Hokkaido, Sea of Japan, 800 m, November 1985, received from K. Muzik, 
?ve small branchlets from a large colony in alcohol, SEM 1389, C1120-1123, *USNM 
84870; Jack Bay, Prince William Sound, Alaska, 64 m, bottom mud and rocks, Alaska 
King Crab Investigations, M/V LOCKS, C.J. Pertuit coll., 28 May 1941, branches of a 
large colony in alcohol, SEM 176, 1619, 1620, USNM 51283; Strait of Georgia, Brit-
ish Columbia, 6.5 km NE of Entrance Island, 350 m on submerged cable, Neil Mc-
Daniel coll., 14 August 1973, one decalci?ed branch in alcohol, USNM 57980; R/V 
PACIFIC LADY (AB70-270), one branch in alcohol, USNM 1011028; R/V JOHN COBB 
(AB94-21), one branch in alcohol, *USNM 1011074; F/V TRITON (AB01-50), two dry 
branches, USNM 1004617; F/V PATRICIA LEE (AB01-47), one dry branch, *USNM 
1004659; ?Southeast Alaska,? 274 m, coll. E. Payn, 1924, one complete dry colony, 
USNM 1024425; Boutillier 10, 54?20?15?N, 133?03?19?W, 457?466 m, one branch, 
*USNM 1016354.
Diagnosis.?Most polyps with a pair of massive basal scales, each basal bearing a 
prominent marginal spine. Medial scales usually fusiform and unpaired. Five mar-
ginal scales of large size, remaining three marginals much smaller. Operculars often 
with more than one keel.
Short Description.?Colonies planar to slightly bushy in shape with a sti?/rigid 
axis, loosely and dichotomously branched, the largest colony (the holotype) 68 cm 
in height, but surely larger colonies exist as evidenced by basal axis diameters of 
up to 24 mm (USNM 1024425, Payn). Terminal branch diameter (including polyps) 
7.5?9.0 mm. Living colonies pink. Polyps stout and straight, 5.0?6.5 mm in length, 
and only slightly ?ared, having a ratio of mid- to distal polyp diameter of 0.53?0.67. 
Polyps densely and randomly arranged on all sides of branches, except in part of one 
colony (see Remarks) in which the polyps are arranged in whorls of ?ve. Basal scales 
of most polyps paired, quite large (massive), and curved to surround most of the base 
of the polyp: up to 3.1 mm in height, including the marginal spines, considerably 
larger than any medial or marginal scale; however, in some polyps these large basals 
are missing. Each basal usually bears a prominent spine up to 1.5 mm in height on 
their outer distal margin, projecting like a horn (Narella-like basals); in some cases 
two spines project from each basal. Outer surface of basals covered with mammiform 
granules 25?30 ?m in diameter; inner surfaces tuberculate. Medial body wall scales 
variable in size and position (Figs. 4A, 5B), but usually not paired, occurring 2?5 
CAIRNS AND BAYER: REVIEW OF THE OCTOCORALLIAN GENUS PRIMNOA 235
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BULLETIN OF MARINE SCIENCE, VOL. 77, NO. 2, 2005236
across the abaxial and lateral polyp surface in roughly three indistinct and overlap-
ping tiers. Medial body wall scales elongate (often fusiform), up to 1.5 mm in length 
and usually 0.5?0.6 mm in width, those on the lateral polyp surfaces always much 
smaller and irregular in shape. Usually ?ve large (up to 1.4 m in height and 1.8 mm 
in width), slightly curved marginal scales present in abaxial and lateral positions, 
the three adaxial marginals considerably smaller (0.85 mm square). Distal third of 
inner surface of marginals bear aligned granules (not tubercles), projecting above 
base of operculars as a collar. A small (0.5 mm) squarish ?supporting scale? (Fig. 4D) 
often present between each marginal and corresponding opercular scales. Opercular 
scales isosceles-triangular, the widest portion often slightly above base or even at 
opercular tip; lateral and apical edges ?nely serrate, basal edge digitiform. Abaxial 
operculars up to 2.8 mm in height, adaxials only about 1.5 mm. All operculars bear 
at least one and sometimes up to four parallel ridged keels on distal half of their in-
ner sides. Otherwise ornamentation is as in P. resedaeformis. Tentacular sclerites 
straight, rotund rods up to 0.32 mm in length and 0.12 in diameter. Coenenchymal 
sclerites elongate, somewhat rounded in cross section, and up to 1.5 mm in length, 
often irregular in shape, sometimes curved. 
Remarks.?The sample from Hokkaido (USNM 84870) agrees in general appear-
ance with the original material of P. paci?ca illustrated by Kinoshita (1908a), but the 
polyps are not as similar to P. resedaeformis in appearance as is implied by Kinoshi-
ta?s ?g. 49 on plate 6. The colonies from the Sea of Japan (USNM 56993, 85281) have 
branches much stouter than the illustrated type; the polyps are virtually indistin-
guishable from those of Alaskan colonies, and the young polyps are very Narella-like. 
In all of the present material but not mentioned by Kinoshita, the marginal scales 
have a wide free margin that ?ares cape-like around the base of the folded opercu-
lum, a condition uncommon in Atlantic P. resedaeformis. However, this feature is 
obscured by a thick external layer of tissue covering the sclerites and in some cases is 
di?cult to see unless the polyp is carefully cleaned. The large abaxial basal scales de-
scribed by Kinoshita as being similar to those of Stachyodes (=Narella) are developed 
in many, but not all, polyps. This character strongly suggests a close relationship of 
Primnoa with Narella, the latter di?ering principally in having only four marginal 
scales (two large abaxials, two small adaxials), only one or two pairs of abaxial scales 
between the marginals and the basals, and in having the polyps arranged in regular 
whorls. The opercular scales as described by Kinoshita (1908a: 44) are ?verl?ngert 
elliptis[c]h, an der Apex stumpf-spitzig,? but in the present material they commonly 
are hastate in outline, somewhat constricted above the base; they often have a small 
scale (termed ?supporting scales? by Aurivillius 1931: 295) located below each.
One of the two branches from AB01-47 (USNM 1004659) has its polyps arranged 
in discrete whorls of ?ve polyps each for a distance of at least 9 cm.
Specimens from Prince William Sound, Alaska (USNM 51283) and the Strait of 
Georgia (USNM 57980) are in good agreement with Japanese specimens, although 
the opercular scales are more nearly triangular. Clearing some polyps with carbol-
xylol reveals that the sclerites are situated essentially as in Japanese material. 
A colony from the southern coast of California (USNM 57557) di?ers in having the 
projections of the basal scales more or less subdivided and the margins of some of 
the other abaxial scales armed with strong marginal spines. The opercular scales are 
roughly triangular. Obtained some 2000 km south of the Strait of Georgia, it is the 
southernmost record for the species.
CAIRNS AND BAYER: REVIEW OF THE OCTOCORALLIAN GENUS PRIMNOA 237
A small colony from Alb-4239 (USNM 58396, 58397) in the Alexander Archipela-
go of southern Alaska is the most remarkable specimen in the collection. It is a young 
colony 7 cm tall with only four bifurcations, the ?rst immediately above the base, and 
three very short new branchlets. Although branched nearly in one plane, the small-
est branches originate out of the original plane indicating that a more bushy growth 
form probably would result as size increased. At its small size, the polyps of this col-
ony retain the basic arrangement of body scales, which on large colonies is more or 
less obscured through breakage and repair of scales or intercalation of supernumer-
ary scales between the original sclerites. Its polyps vary from almost perfectly Na-
rella-form (Fig. 5A) to nearly typical paci?ca-form (Fig. 5B), with body scales ranging 
from practically smooth to elaborately sculptured (Fig. 5C). Very young polyps (Fig. 
5A) usually have three pairs of large abaxial body scales (including the abaxial mar-
ginal/buccal scales), closely resembling the adult condition in Narella. Considered 
independently, it could be regarded as a morphologically distinct species, but when 
assessed in the context provided by fully developed colonies from Prince William 
Sound southward to California and from Hokkaido south to Kyushu, it can only be 
regarded as a young colony of the same species of Primnoa inhabiting the northern 
perimeter of the Paci?c. The variation in armature present on polyps of this colo-
ny spans the range demonstrated by various colonies throughout the geographical 
Figure 5. Primnoa paci?ca, polyps of small colony from Alexander Archipelago, Alaska, USNM 
58397: A, one fully developed Narella-like polyp and three young polyps; B, one fully developed 
polyp with many medial body scales nearly as narrow as in P. p. willeyi, and two young polyps; C, 
one fully developed Narella-like polyp with strongly ornamented scales. Scale bar = 1 mm.
BULLETIN OF MARINE SCIENCE, VOL. 77, NO. 2, 2005238
Figure 6. Primnoa paci?ca paci?ca, constituent sclerites from a colony from Hokkaido (USNM 
84870): A, opercular scales; B, inner distal surface of an opercular showing a double ridge; C, 
marginal scales; D, basal scales; E, body wall scales; F, coenenchymal scales; G, tubercles on 
inner surface of a coenenchymal scale; H, tentacular rods. Scale bars: D = 1 mm, A, C, E?F = 0.5 
mm, B = 0.25 mm, H = 0.10 mm, G = 0.05 mm.
CAIRNS AND BAYER: REVIEW OF THE OCTOCORALLIAN GENUS PRIMNOA 239
range represented, and provides evidence that the variation seen in Japanese and 
northeastern Paci?c colonies of Primnoa lacks taxonomic signi?cance.
Cimberg et al. (1981, App. 3) reported 94 Alaskan occurrences of Primnoa from 
Dixon Entrance to Amchitka at depths of 10?800 m, but most of these records are 
personal communications from ?shermen and thus no vouchers exist to determine 
which of the three Alaskan Primnoa they represent, although most of these records 
are probably P. paci?ca. They conclude that Primnoa occurs only on hard substrates 
(e.g., large boulders, exposed bedrock), in areas of low turbidity, and at a minimum 
yearly temperatures of 3.7 ?C.
Comparisons.?Primnoa paci?ca is distinguished from P. resedaeformis primar-
ily by its possession of prominent, often spinose, basal scales, which are by far the 
largest sclerite on the polyp (Table 1). Also, P. paci?ca usually has narrower and thus 
more numerous unpaired medial scales, ?ve (not six) large marginal scales, and sup-
porting scales between the marginals and operculars. 
Commercial Exploitation.?When cut and polished (Figs. 1C?D), cross sections 
of main stem ?which may be up to 6 cm in diameter? resemble agate or petri?ed 
wood in medium and pale brown tones. As a by-product of halibut ?shing, this coral 
yielded $20?$25 per lb to the ?shermen and found a substantial market until about 
1980. As colonies large enough to be useful probably are very old, it is likely that 
the standing crop on productive trawling grounds would soon be exhausted during 
routine ?shing operations, sharply limiting supply. As has occurred with commer-
cial red corals (Corallium spp.), intensive over-?shing can be expected to deplete the 
stock of colonies of usable size locally, but it is unlikely to threaten the species with 
extinction. A reservoir of small but already reproductive colonies can be expected 
to avoid capture even on trawling grounds, and large colonies certainly will persist 
on bottom too rough for trawling. More recently, Krieger and Wing (2002) report a 
negligible jewelry harvest of only 200 kg yr?1.
Distribution?Sea of Japan (Kinoshita, 1907; Broch, 1935), Sagami Bay, Japan 
(Kinoshita, 1907), Sea of Okhotsk (Broch, 1935), Aleutian Islands, Gulf of Alaska, Al-
exander Archipelago to Dixon Entrance, o? La Jolla, California; 64?800 m. R. Stone 
( Auke bay Lab, Juneau, pers. comm.) reports specimens from 9 m from Glacier Bay, 
Alaska. Numerous other records from the Aleutians and Gulf of Alaska reported as 
Primnoa sp. (e.g., Cimberg et al., 1981) remain uncon?rmed.
Primnoa paci?ca var. willeyi Hickson, 1915
(Figs. 1C?E, 7?8)
Primnoa willeyi Hickson, 1915: 551?553, text ?g. 3 (type locality: wsw Moreseby Island, British 
Columbia, 183 m).?K?kenthal, 1924: 267.?Aurivillius, 1931: 296 (comparisons).?Cim-
berg et al. 1981: 8, 10, 12 (remarks).?Heifetz, 2002: 22, 26 (listed).?Krieger and Wing, 
2002: 83 (mention).?Andrews et al. 2002: 102 (comment).?Wing and Barnard, 2004: 24 
(listed).
Material Examined.??taken by ?shermen out of Petersburg, Kupreanof I., Alex-
ander Archipelago, Alaska,? exact locality not recorded, 146 m, one nearly complete 
colony 2.2 m tall, preserved dry and a small piece rehydrated in alcohol, SEM 1828-
1831, C1123-1127, USNM 58084; vicinity of Petersburg, Kupreanof I., Alexander Ar-
chipelago, exact locality and depth not recorded, 19 August 1947, one small branch 
BULLETIN OF MARINE SCIENCE, VOL. 77, NO. 2, 2005240
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CAIRNS AND BAYER: REVIEW OF THE OCTOCORALLIAN GENUS PRIMNOA 241
Figure 8. Primnoa paci?ca var. willeyi, constituent sclerites from a colony from Kupreanof Is-
lands (USNM 58048): A, opercular scales; B, tubercles on inner surface of a coenenchymal scale; 
C, spination on outer distal surface of an opercular scale; D, marginal scales; E, one basal scale; 
F, body wall scales; G, coenenchymal scales; H, tentacular rods. Scale bars: E = 1 mm, A, C?D, 
F?G = 0.5 mm, B, H = 0.05 mm.
BULLETIN OF MARINE SCIENCE, VOL. 77, NO. 2, 2005242
of a large colony preserved dry, and three pieces of axis, one cut longitudinally and 
another transversely and polished, USNM 44058; o? Petersburg, Alexander Archi-
pelago, Kupreanof I., coll. Titus Ulke, date not recorded, branches from a large dry 
colony, USNM 40066; Chatham Sound, B. C., depth not recorded, coll. B. Eggleston, 
date not recorded, incomplete dry colony in very poor condition, identi?cation ques-
tionable, USNM 52199; ?Halibut ?shing grounds,? B. C., exact location not recorded, 
coll. Michaud Bros., 4 March 1922, one incomplete dry specimen, USNM 42135; 
ALB-4239, six dry branches, USNM 58396; ALB-4302, one colony in alcohol, USNM 
1024424; MILLER FREEMAN 93-9-10, one dry branch probably of a large colony, SEM 
2507-2509, USNM 100834; MILLER FREEMAN 01-04-01, one branch in alcohol and 
one dry, *USNM 1010785; FV PAT SAN MARIE (AB78-119), SW of Dall Island, Dixon 
Entrance, B. C., depth unknown, July 1978, one branch in alcohol, USNM 111073; FV 
ALEUTIAN NO.1 (AB01-51), one dry branch, USNM 1004603; o? British Columbia, 
depth unknown, about 1938, one dry branch, MCZ 3855; ALVIN 4028, branches in 
alcohol, USNM; syntypic branches of P. willeyi, probably from one colony (in alcohol 
transferred from formalin), BMNH 1962.7.20.188.
Diagnosis.?Di?ers from the typical form in having twisted polyps with a nar-
row mid section and a bulbous distal end, and medial body wall sclerites that are 
restricted to the abaxial side.
Remarks.?Variety willeyi di?ers from the typical variety by having basal scales 
that are usually smaller than their marginals, often the same size as the medials or 
quite inconspicuous, but occasionally quite large and spined, just as large as those 
in the typical variety. Variety willeyi also di?ers from the typical variety in having 
more slender and often twisted, even recurved polyps that support a bulbous, ?ared 
distal end, evidenced by its having a much smaller mid- to distal polyp diameter ratio 
(Table 1). Also, its medial body wall scales cover only the abaxial body wall, not the 
lateral body wall, resulting in a larger exposed naked region of the polyp on the lat-
eral and adaxial sides. Nonetheless, these di?erences are more of a matter of degree 
than kind, some specimens of variety willeyi having a range of basal scale size and 
shape that overlaps that of the typical form. The only consistent di?erence between 
the two taxa is the shape of the polyps, which, because the distribution of both taxa 
overlap (in two cases occurring at the same station), is considered herein to be only 
a varietal di?erence. 
K?kenthal (1924) stated that P. willeyi is distinguished from P. resedaeformis by its 
somewhat smaller polyps and the weaker scale covering of the adaxial [sic] side of the 
polyps; the latter statement is probably an error for ?abaxial,? as the adaxial sides of 
polyps in all Primnoa are devoid of scales below the adaxial marginals.
Distribution.?Most veri?ed records are from o? British Columbia and contiguous 
Alexander Archipelago, Alaska, but it is also known from western Gulf of Alaska 
(Dickens Seamount) and Aleutian Islands (Amchitka); 183?755 m.
CAIRNS AND BAYER: REVIEW OF THE OCTOCORALLIAN GENUS PRIMNOA 243
Primnoa wingi new species
(Figs. 1 H?I, 9?10)
Material Examined/Types.?Holotype: one dry colony, a smaller fragment in al-
cohol, SEM C1128-1130, C1132-1133, R/V SEA STORM 150, *USNM 1010257. Para-
types: FV SPIRIT OF THE NORTH (AB01-67), one dry colony, USNM 1006247; FV 
ALASKAN BEAUTY (AB01-68), one dry colony and branches, USNM 1004613; FV PA-
TRICIA LEE (AB01-69), two dry branches, USNM 1004616; FV PATRICIA LEE (AB01-
70), one dry branch, USNM 1004601; RV VERSTRAALEN 941-53, two branches in 
alcohol, *USNM 100741; RV VERSTRAALEN 941-118, ?ve branches in alcohol, SEM 
1131, *USNM 100740, 100844, and 1012503.
Type Locality.?52?30?57?N, 173?29?35?W (north of Amlia Island, Andreanof Is-
lands, Aleutians), 213?220 m.
Diagnosis.?Basal scales inconspicuous; medial scales elongate, rarely over 0.2 mm 
wide, occurring in a narrow abaxial tract and immersed in tissue, often not seen. 
Marginal scales highly concave, forming a discrete girdle around polyp. Opercular 
scales uniquely shaped (see text), resulting in a porous operculum. Tentacular rods 
large (up to 0.5 mm) and often curved. Polyps very ?eshy.
Description.?Colonies are roughly planar in shape and dichotomously branched, 
although the frequency of branching is low, the largest specimen (the holotype) hav-
ing only seven branch axils in its 35 cm height. The holotype is only a partial colony, 
lacking its base and distal branches; its axis is 14.5 mm in basal diameter, rigid, stri-
ate, and black in color. No colonies were collected with an intact base. Terminal 
branches, which are always covered with polyps, are 13?15 mm in diameter. The 
color of the living colony is reddish-orange.
Polyps are densely crowded on all branch surfaces and usually directed downward, 
but because of their elongate shape and ?accid nature, they often curve or corkscrew 
in various directions, often resulting in an upward or sideways orientation. Polyps 
are long (8?12 mm) and slender, supporting a bulbous apical end, the ratio of mid- to 
apical polyp diameters being 0.25?0.36. 
The medial sclerites form a narrow strip 2?4 across along the abaxial midline of 
the polyp, these sclerites being elongate, ?attened scales up to 1.5 mm in length and 
only 0.17?0.19 mm in width. In a dried and partially bleached polyp the medial scler-
ites (Fig. 10F) can be seen to form a narrow abaxial ?spine? within the abaxial polyp 
wall, but a?ord little actual support for the polyp. The polyp body wall tissue on both 
sides of the abaxial midline, as well as the lateral and adaxial surfaces, are naked and 
quite ?eshy, sometimes appearing translucent. There are no de?nable basal scales, 
the medial scales indistinguishably merging with the coenenchymal scales of the 
axis. The eight marginal scales are by far the largest sclerites, rectangular to squarish 
in shape, the six abaxial and lateral marginals up to 2.1 mm in height and 2.0 mm 
in width, the adaxial marginals about 1.4 mm in both dimensions. Altogether the 
eight marginals form a prominent circular and continuous collar that envelopes the 
lower opercular scales. The inner surface of the marginals is highly concave (almost 
hemispherical), tuberculate only on their proximal half and striate on their distal. 
The outer surface is covered with sharp, aligned spines, those toward the apical end 
up to 50 ?m in length (Fig. 9F). The opercular scales are uniquely shaped, composed 
of a rectangular but often bi?d base comprising the lower 25% of the scale and being 
about 0.4 mm wide; a narrow neck region comprises the next 10% of the scale, which 
BULLETIN OF MARINE SCIENCE, VOL. 77, NO. 2, 2005244
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CAIRNS AND BAYER: REVIEW OF THE OCTOCORALLIAN GENUS PRIMNOA 245
Figure 10. Primnoa wingi, sp. nov., constituent sclerites from the holotype: A, opercular scales; 
B, slender outer proximal regions of opercular scales; C?D, inner distal region of two opercular 
scales; E, marginal scales; F, several body wall sclerites in situ; G, tubercles on inner surface of 
a coenenchymal scale; H, body wall sclerites; I, coenenchymal sclerites; J, tentacular rods. Scale 
bars: E = 1 mm, A?B, D, F, H?I = 0.5 mm, B (lower right), C = 0.25 mm, J = 0.10 mm, G = 0.05 
mm.
BULLETIN OF MARINE SCIENCE, VOL. 77, NO. 2, 2005246
is about 0.25 mm in width; and a large distal spatulate region comprises the remain-
ing 65% of the scale, which is up to 0.70 mm wide, an entire abaxial opercular being 
up to 2.6 mm in length. The operculars are strongly curved to arch over the top of 
the polyp. The neck region is quite fragile and often breaks in sclerite preparations. 
The inner surface of the operculars is tuberculate, the tubercles measuring 11?15 ?m 
in diameter, the distal region bears one or two low longitudinal keels, and the tip of 
the distal region bears numerous low ridges that extend to the edge of the scale (Fig. 
10D). The outer surface of the opercular basal region is fairly ?at and unornamented, 
whereas the short neck region bears tall reticulate ridges; the distal region is covered 
with small spines and occasionally also bears a prominent longitudinal ridge. Be-
cause the operculars are so narrow basally (i.e., the neck region) they do not overlap 
or even meet laterally, thus the operculum has eight elongate, ovoid, naked regions 
devoid of sclerites (Fig. 9C) but held together with tissue. The tentacular sclerites are 
straight to slightly curved, rotund rods, measuring up to 0.5 mm in length and 0.17 
mm in diameter, but most smaller; i.e., 0.40 ? 0.15 mm. Coenenchymal sclerites are 
elongate and somewhat irregular in shape but with few bifurcations, and rarely over 
0.9 mm in length and 0.15 mm in width.
Remarks.?Judging from the way in which the polyps adhere to one another and 
to the branch when dried, it would appear that this species produces large quanti-
ties of mucous during collection. According to B. Wing (Auke Bay Lab, Juneau, pers. 
comm) this species attains a height of 5 m.
Comparisons.?Primnoa wingi is most similar to P. paci?ca var. willeyi, particu-
larly in its slender adaxial body wall sclerites, but P. wingi has unique features that 
easily distinguish from all other congeners (Table 1), including its distinctive spoon-
shaped opercular scales; highly concave marginal scales; large curved tentacular 
rods; relatively short coenenchymal sclerites; large, extremely ?eshy, ?accid polyps; 
and large distal branch diameter. Furthermore, distinctive basal scales are not pres-
ent.   
Etymology.?Named in honor of Bruce Wing, strong advocate of invertebrate zool-
ogy in the Gulf of Alaska. 
Distribution.?Aleutian Islands, Alaska: Rat Islands, Andreanof Islands, south of 
Yunaska Island; 208?512 m.
Primnoa notialis new species
(Figs.1 F?G, 11?13)
Primnoa resedaeformis notialis.?Heikoop et al. 2002: 118 (nom. nud.).?Risk et al. 2002: 126 
(nom. nud.).
Material Examined/Types.?Holotype: Eltanin-1346, one colony in alcohol (SEM 
1812, 1824-1827, 1832-1834), USNM 87621. Paratypes: Eltanin-1343, many large 
branches and smaller fragments, all paratypes preserved in alcohol (SEM 177, 187, 
290, 1392-1393, 1400, 1470), USNM 58169-58172; young variant form (SEM 2558-
2559), USNM 87623; Eltanin-1345, one branch (paratype) in alcohol, USNM 98264; 
Eltanin-1346, one colony devoid of polyps but with many individual detached polyps, 
in alcohol, USNM 87624, and a massive dry calci?ed basal branch without polyps 
USNM 87625, and one large colony and many smaller branches (most in alcohol, 
some branched dried) (SEM C1113-C1116), USNM 87627, and one small variant 
CAIRNS AND BAYER: REVIEW OF THE OCTOCORALLIAN GENUS PRIMNOA 247
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te
re
o 
vi
ew
 o
f 
a 
po
ly
p,
 ?
13
; C
, a
da
xi
al
 s
te
re
o 
vi
ew
 o
f 
a 
po
ly
p 
sh
ow
in
g 
pa
ir
s 
of
 a
da
xi
al
 o
pe
rc
ul
ar
 s
ca
le
s,
 ?
15
; D
, o
pe
rc
ul
ar
 s
te
re
o 
vi
ew
 o
f 
a 
po
ly
p,
 ?
13
.
BULLETIN OF MARINE SCIENCE, VOL. 77, NO. 2, 2005248
colony attached to Solenosmilia variabilis (Duncan, 1873) (SEM 1394-1397, 2557), 
USNM 87622.
Type Locality.?54?49?S, 129?48?W (Subantarctic seamount on the Heezen Frac-
ture Zone of the Eltanin Fracture Zone System), 549 m.
Diagnosis.?Primnoa with basal body scales not strongly developed, without con-
spicuous projecting marginal processes or spines; medial body wall scales irregularly 
arranged; 4?5 large marginal scales, the remaining marginals much smaller.
Description.?The growth form of the colonies is similar to that of typical resedae-
formis. The largest fragments are about 40 cm tall, indicating that complete colonies 
would be much larger, possibly a meter or more in height; the holotype is a branch 
fragment 23 cm in length. The stoutest main stem is about 15 mm in diameter, hence 
much smaller than the trunk of fully developed colonies from the North Paci?c. 
A main stem with holdfast (USNM 87624) has a calcareous basal thickening like 
that of P. resedaeformis, and another massive calcareous holdfast from Eltanin-1346 
(USNM 87625) gives rise to a very large stout main trunk axis 23.5 mm in diameter, 
spreading over the substrate to a radius of 15 cm and to a thickness of 13 mm in plac-
es. Although this specimen is devoid of polyps, the axial material is identical with 
that of the other specimens and could hardly by anything but P. notialis. In thinner 
branches and twigs the axis has a brilliant golden sheen but in most places is brown 
with a dull metallic luster; in some places it may be very dark brown, almost black, 
with no gloss. The axial surface is longitudinally grooved. Branching is irregularly 
dichotomous and roughly in the same plane; the terminal branchlets curve upward 
and often are rather sinuous, some of them with a prominent apex devoid of polyps, 
others with a blunt tip about 9 mm in diameter formed by the bases of the upper-
most polyps. Branchlets originating from the lower side of more or less horizontal 
branches turn upward through as much as 180?. 
The polyps are densely crowded all around the branches, most of them bent down-
ward, but individuals directed upward and obliquely in various directions are not 
uncommon. They are so closely and irregularly placed that usually no verticillate ar-
rangement is obvious, but areas showing a tendency toward arrangement in whorls 
can be found here and there throughout the colonies (see ?variation?). Depending 
upon girth, the circumference of the axis accommodates from ?ve or six to up to ten 
or more polyps. For the most part the polyps are only slightly ?ared distally (mid-to 
distal ratio of polyp diameter 0.5?0.6), having a campanulate aspect. They are 3?5 
mm in length, 1.5?2.0 mm in diameter near the middle, and 2?3 mm across the 
marginal scales. 
Sclerites are fully developed only on the abaxial side of the polyp, usually only 
indistinctly arranged in two rows if at all. The unpaired basal scales are slightly or 
not at all larger than the medials and do not have marginal projections. In by far 
the vast majority of polyps, the medial abaxial scales, which occur in 3?6 indistinct 
tiers, are irregularly disposed. They consist of larger elliptical to rhomboidal-shaped 
scales 0.8?1.1 mm in width and numerous tiny supernumerary irregularly-shaped 
sclerites 0.15?0.40 mm in width arranged around the edges of the larger scales. The 
larger medial scales are rather thick and slightly convex above, often with irregular 
digitiform edges. The marginal scales di?er in size, each polyp usually having ?ve 
large, slightly convex, rectangular marginal scales in the abaxial and outer lateral 
positions, these scales up to 2.3 mm in height and 1.7 mm in width, their distal edges 
projecting well above (0.50?0.75 mm) the insertion of the proximal edges of the 
CAIRNS AND BAYER: REVIEW OF THE OCTOCORALLIAN GENUS PRIMNOA 249
Figure 12. Primnoa notialis, sp. nov., constituent sclerites from a paratype from Eltanin-1346 
(USNM 87627): A, opercular scales; B, edge of outer surface of a marginal scale; C, marginal 
scales; D, adaxial marginal scales; E, body wall scales; F, coenenchymal scales; G, tubercles on 
inner surface of a coenenchymal scale; H, tentacular rods. Scale bars: C = 1.0 mm, A?B, D?F = 
0.5 mm, G = 0.20 mm, H = 0.05 mm.
BULLETIN OF MARINE SCIENCE, VOL. 77, NO. 2, 2005250
opercular scales, together forming a prominent hood for the operculum. Their distal 
and lateral edges are ?nely serrate, their proximal edges digitiform. The lower two-
thirds of the inner surface is tuberculate, the upper third striate; the outer surface is 
granular. Two pairs of smaller (0.75?1.0 mm in width), squarish marginal scales oc-
cur in the inner lateral position and 2?3 pairs of slightly smaller marginal scales also 
occur in the adaxial position (Fig. 12D). The opercular scales curve slightly to mold 
to the curvature of the polyp, forming an operculum consisting of eight isosceles-tri-
Figure 13. Primnoa notialis, sp. nov., drawings of the holotype: A, branch tip with terminal grow-
ing point; B, part of branch showing irregular arrangement of polyps; C?E, abaxial, opercular, 
and lateral views of a polyp; F, lateral view of operculum of two polyps showing fracture of basal 
part of opercular scales; G, adaxial (top), outer lateral (middle) and adaxial opercular scales; H, 
abaxial, outer lateral, and adaxial marginal scales; I, tentacular sclerites; J, coenenchymal scler-
ites. Scale as indicated.
CAIRNS AND BAYER: REVIEW OF THE OCTOCORALLIAN GENUS PRIMNOA 251
angular shaped scales with a rounded apex, when folded together forming a compact, 
prominent blunt cone. The abaxial operculars of fully developed polyps are 1.8?1.9 
mm in height and 0.8?1.0 mm wide at the base; the adaxial operculars are 1.2?1.4 
mm in height and 0.6?0.7 mm wide at the base. The operculars have a low, blunt 
longitudinal keel on their inner surface as well as being covered with tubercles on the 
proximal portion and striate towards the tip. The outer opercular surfaces are cov-
ered with granules, which are developed into small spines toward the tip. The outer 
and lateral edges of the operculars are ?nely serrate, the proximal edge digitiform. 
Often a small, rounded scale lies beneath each of the operculars, as was noted also in 
P. paci?ca by Kinoshita (1908a: 44, pl. 6, ?g. 49). The outer surfaces of all body wall 
and opercular scales are covered with a low, ?ne granulation, the granules measuring 
15?20 ?m in diameter, and arranged in radiating lines from an origin point about 
one-third up from the base of each sclerite. Tentacular rods are straight, rotund and 
up to 0.17 mm in length and 0.035?0.045 in diameter. Coenenchymal sclerites are 
thick, elongate rods, irregularly rounded plates, and scales with lobed margins, vary-
ing from about 0.5 to a little more than 1 mm in greatest length. Their outer surfaces 
are covered with granules 25?28 ?m in diameter whereas their inner surfaces are 
covered with complex tubercles, some of which are as large as 35 ?m in diameter.
Many polyps contain several dozen small yellow eggs, each about 0.45 mm in di-
ameter.
Variation.?In a few specimens (USNM 87622, 87623), unfortunately in damaged 
condition, the body scales of the polyps are larger, thinner, and more regularly ar-
ranged, and the opercular scales are more sharply pointed. As these specimens are 
small colonies attached by their holdfasts to branches of scleractinian coral, it is pos-
sible that their polyps retain the basic arrangement of body scales that is disrupted 
on large colonies, as was noted in the young colony of P. paci?ca. The arrangement 
of body scales is similar to that of some specimens of typical North Atlantic rese-
daeformis.
Although the predominant arrangement of polyps is random, in fact, in small col-
onies the polyps are often arranged in whorls, but these become disrupted almost 
at once by asymmetrical growth and the production of young polyps between older 
ones. The polyps on the branch tip illustrated on Figure 13B clearly shows the polyps 
arranged in a somewhat oblique whorl. But, in most cases, the polyps are much more 
crowded near the branch tips where the whorls are completely obscured and the 
branches are distinctly clavate.
Comparisons.?Primnoa notialis most closely resembles P. paci?ca in the irregular 
size and arrangement of the medial body scales, but no polyps with large, Narella-
like basal scales have been found in the present material. In this respect, P. notialis is 
more like typical resedaeformis of the North Atlantic (Table 1).
Etymology.?The species is named notialis (Latin: southern) for the only known 
species of Primnoa south of the equator. 
Distribution.?Known only from a Subantarctic seamount on the Heezen Frac-
ture Zone of the Eltanin Fracture Zone System at depths of 549?915 m, the site of 
a deep-water coral bank composed primarily of the scleractinian coral S. variabilis 
(see Cairns, 1982).
BULLETIN OF MARINE SCIENCE, VOL. 77, NO. 2, 2005252
Ta
bl
e 
1.
 D
is
tin
gu
is
hi
ng
 c
ha
ra
ct
er
is
tic
s 
of
 th
e 
sp
ec
ie
s 
of
 P
ri
m
no
a.
P.
 r
es
ed
ae
fo
rm
is
P.
 p
ac
i?
ca
 ty
pi
ca
l
P.
 p
ac
i?
ca
 v
ar
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il
le
yi
P.
 w
in
gi
P.
 n
ot
ia
li
s
C
ol
or
 a
liv
e
B
ri
gh
t p
in
k.
Pi
nk
.
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ca
rl
et
,?
 o
ra
ng
e.
R
ed
di
sh
-o
ra
ng
e.
U
nk
no
w
n.
Te
rm
in
al
 b
ra
nc
h 
di
am
et
er
  
(i
nc
lu
di
ng
 p
ol
yp
s)
9?
11
 m
m
.
7.
5?
9.
0 
m
m
.
6?
9 
m
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13
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5 
m
m
.
8?
9 
m
m
.
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ly
p 
le
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; r
at
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 o
f 
m
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to
 
di
st
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 p
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m
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67
   
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B
od
y 
w
al
l b
as
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 s
ca
le
s:
 s
iz
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sh
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 m
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pi
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s;
 p
ai
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Sa
m
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 o
r 
sl
ig
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ly
 
w
id
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 b
ut
 s
ho
rt
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 th
an
 
m
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ls
; n
o 
m
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gi
na
l 
sp
in
es
; p
ai
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L
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 o
f 
sc
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s 
(m
as
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ve
);
 o
ft
en
 w
it
h 
a 
la
rg
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m
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pi
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(N
ar
el
la
-l
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; p
ai
re
d.
V
ar
ia
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e:
 la
rg
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an
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sp
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 (
N
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la
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or
 s
m
al
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 p
ai
re
d.
In
co
ns
pi
cu
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s,
 
sa
m
e 
as
 m
ed
ia
ls
; 
no
 m
ar
gi
na
l s
pi
ne
s;
 
un
pa
ir
ed
.
S
m
al
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si
ze
 a
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 s
ha
pe
 
of
 m
ed
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l s
ca
le
s;
 
no
 m
ar
gi
na
l s
pi
ne
s;
 
un
pa
ir
ed
.
B
od
y 
w
al
l m
ed
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l a
ba
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 s
ca
le
s:
 
sh
ap
e;
 m
x.
 w
id
th
; n
um
be
r;
 p
ai
re
d
R
ec
ta
ng
ul
ar
, ?
at
; t
o 
1.
5 
m
m
 w
id
th
; 2
?5
 li
ne
ar
ly
 
ar
ra
ng
ed
  p
ai
rs
.
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ar
ia
bl
e:
 r
ec
-t
an
gu
la
r 
to
 e
lo
ng
at
e;
 u
p 
to
 1
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m
m
 in
 le
ng
th
 a
nd
 
0.
5?
0.
6 
m
m
 w
id
e;
 
2?
5 
ac
ro
ss
 in
 th
re
e 
ir
re
gu
la
r 
ti
er
s;
 u
su
al
ly
 
no
t p
ai
re
d.
L
ik
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ty
pi
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l f
or
m
, b
ut
 
do
 n
ot
 o
cc
ur
 o
n 
la
te
ra
l 
ed
ge
s 
of
 p
ol
yp
.
E
lo
ng
at
e,
 e
m
be
dd
ed
 
in
 ti
ss
ue
 a
lo
ng
 a
ba
xi
al
 
sp
in
e;
 u
p 
to
 1
.5
 m
m
 
lo
ng
 a
nd
 le
ss
 th
an
 0
.2
 
in
 w
id
th
; 2
?3
 a
cr
os
s;
 
no
t p
ai
re
d.
E
ll
ip
ti
ca
l, 
sq
ua
re
; 
1.
0?
1.
1 
m
m
 w
id
e;
 
nu
m
er
ou
s,
 in
cl
ud
in
g 
su
pe
rn
um
er
ar
y;
 
un
pa
ir
ed
, i
rr
eg
ul
ar
ly
 
di
sp
os
ed
.
B
od
y 
w
al
l m
ar
gi
na
l s
ca
le
s:
 
sh
ap
e;
 n
um
be
r 
an
d 
si
ze
R
ec
ta
ng
ul
ar
, ?
at
; u
su
al
ly
 
si
x 
la
rg
e 
an
d 
tw
o 
sm
al
le
r 
ad
ax
ia
l.
R
ec
ta
ng
ul
ar
; u
su
al
ly
 
?v
e 
la
rg
e 
an
d 
th
re
e 
sm
al
le
r 
ad
ax
ia
l p
lu
s 
?s
up
po
rt
 s
ca
le
s?
.
L
ik
e 
ty
pi
ca
l f
or
m
.
R
ec
ta
ng
ul
ar
 to
 s
qu
ar
e;
 
si
x 
la
rg
e 
an
d 
tw
o 
sm
al
le
r 
ad
ax
ia
l, 
hi
gh
ly
 
co
nc
av
e.
R
ec
ta
ng
ul
ar
; ?
ve
 
la
rg
e 
an
d 
3?
4 
sm
al
le
r 
ad
ax
ia
l.
O
pe
rc
ul
ar
 s
ca
le
s:
 s
ha
pe
 a
nd
 s
iz
e 
of
 a
ba
xi
al
 o
pe
rc
ul
ar
; k
ee
l
Is
os
ce
le
s,
 b
lu
nt
- 
ti
pp
ed
, 
2.
1 
m
m
; l
ow
, b
lu
nt
 k
ee
l.
Is
os
ce
le
s 
or
 h
as
ta
te
, 
bl
un
t t
ip
pe
d,
 u
p 
to
 2
.8
 
m
m
; 1
?4
 p
ro
m
in
en
t, 
ri
dg
ed
 k
ee
ls
.
Is
os
ce
le
s;
 u
p 
to
 2
.3
 
m
m
; o
ne
 o
r 
m
or
e 
ri
dg
ed
 k
ee
ls
.
U
ni
qu
el
y 
sh
ap
ed
 (
se
e 
te
xt
),
 u
p 
to
 2
.6
 m
m
; 
1?
2 
bl
un
t k
ee
ls
.
Is
os
ce
le
s,
 b
lu
nt
-t
ip
pe
d,
 
up
 to
 1
.9
 m
m
; l
ow
 
ke
el
.
Te
nt
ac
ul
ar
 r
od
s:
 s
iz
e 
an
d 
sh
ap
e
St
ra
ig
ht
; 0
.1
8 
? 
0.
04
5 
m
m
.
St
ra
ig
ht
, r
ot
un
d;
 
0.
32
 ?
 0
.1
2 
m
m
.
St
ra
ig
ht
, r
ot
un
d;
 
0.
22
 ?
 0
.0
7 
m
m
.
St
ra
ig
ht
 to
 c
ur
ve
d,
 
ro
tu
nd
; 0
.5
0 
? 
0.
17
 
m
m
.
S
tr
ai
gh
t, 
ro
tu
nd
; 
0.
16
 ?
 0
.0
45
 m
m
.
D
is
tr
ib
ut
io
n;
 d
ep
th
 r
an
ge
N
or
th
 A
tla
nt
ic
: V
ir
gi
ni
a 
B
ea
ch
 to
 G
re
en
la
nd
 (
91
?
54
8 
m
);
 E
as
te
rn
 A
tl
an
ti
c:
 
G
re
en
la
nd
 to
 S
co
tl
an
d;
 
95
?1
,0
20
 m
.
H
on
sh
u,
 J
ap
an
 to
 
C
al
if
or
ni
a;
 9
?8
00
 m
.
A
le
ut
ia
n 
Is
la
nd
s 
to
 
B
ri
ti
sh
 C
ol
um
bi
a;
 
18
3?
75
5 
m
.
A
le
ut
ia
n 
Is
la
nd
s;
 
20
8?
51
2 
m
.
S
ub
an
ta
rc
ti
c 
se
am
ou
nt
; 
54
9?
91
5 
m
.
CAIRNS AND BAYER: REVIEW OF THE OCTOCORALLIAN GENUS PRIMNOA 253
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We extend thanks to M. Grassho? of the Natur-Museum Senckenberg, Frankfurt, Germa-
ny, for the useful and constructive suggestions provided in his review of the manuscript. FMB 
is grateful to P. F. S. Cornelius of The Natural History Museum (London) for his unfailing 
hospitality and kindness during visits to the Coelenterate Section, and for making available 
to him the type material of Primnoa willeyi discussed in the foregoing pages. K. Muzik kindly 
provided a sample of Primnoa paci?ca from Japanese waters and A. Johnston loaned us vari-
ous specimens from the MCZ collection. The scanning electron micrographs were made by 
W. R. Brown, former chief of the SEM Laboratory, National Museum of Natural History, and 
by the ?rst author. We credit research assistant T. Co?er for the execution of the Photoshop-
produced sclerite plates. We thank A. Baco-Taylor for the gift of one specimen of P. paci?ca 
willeyi from Dickens Seamount, funded by a grant from the NOAA O?ce of Exploration 
grant #NA040AR4600051. We also thank S. France for his preliminary sequencing of the 
various species and for his technical advice. 
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DATE SUBMITTED: 11 January, 2005.   DATE ACCEPTED: 8 March, 2005.
ADDRESS: Department of Invertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smith-
sonian Institution, P. O. Box 37012, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012. CORRESPONDING AUTHOR:
(S.D.C.) E-mail: <cairns.stephen@nmnh.si.edu>.
BULLETIN OF MARINE SCIENCE, VOL. 77, NO. 2, 2005256
APPENDIX 1. STATION DATA
Station Latitude Longitude Depth (m) Date
Alvin
AD-4028 54?33.17?N 136?50.64?W 755 4 Aug 2004
Auke Bay (AB) stations
AB-70-270 59?42?24?N 149?06?40?W 170 1 Oct 1970
AB-94-21 57?22.86?N 136?22.38?W 276 3 Jun 1994
AB-01-47 51?50.53?N 176?00.14?E 362 5 Dec 2000
AB-01-50 51?24.79?N 178?50.03?W 640 2 Feb 2001
AB-01-51 51?13.14?N 179?25.42?E 399?501 June 2000
AB-01-67 51?59.25?N 176?49.52?W 512 9 Mar 2000
AB-01-68 52?07.44?N 177?51.05?E 208?435 6 Feb 2000
AB-01-69 51?58.45?N 177?32.85?E 411 3 Dec 2000
AB-01-70 52?08.11?N 176?07.29?E 475 14 Dec 2000
U.S.F.C.S Albatross (Alb)
2068 42?03?00?N 65?48?40?W 239 1 Sep 1883
2069 41?54?50?N 65?48?35?W 183 1 Sep 1883
2070 41?55?30?N 65?47?10?W 207 1 Sep 1883
2072 41?53?00?N 65?35?00?W ?1,477 2 Sep 1885
2474 44?18?30?N 57?10?40?W 243 4 Jul 1885
2480 44?06?00?N 57?16?30?W 346 m 5 Jul 1885
2523 41?48?30?N 65?44?30?W 203 13 Jul 1885
2527 41?59?N 65?35?30?W 214 13 Jul 1885
4239 Guard I., Behm Canal, B.C. 377?454 9 Jul 1903
4302 Pt. Amelius, Shakan, Sumner Str 309?388 24 Aug 1903
4329 Soledad Hill, La Jolla, CA 205?234 8 Mar 1904
RV Albatross IV (Alb IV)
IV-00-06-23 37?03.94?N 74?39.55?W 375?489 8 Sept 2000
RV Eastward
35982 40?23?42?N 68?07?53?W 415?680 15 May 1979
36016 40?24?49?N 67?41?37?W 182?612 23 May 1979
RV Eltanin
1343 54?50?S 129?50?W 567?604 7 Nov 1964
1345 54?51?S 129?46?W 915?1153 7 Nov 1964
1346 54?49?S 129?48?W 549 7 Nov 1964
RV Gilliss
7404-104 37?03?36?N 74?34?06?W 237?385 24 Nov 1974
RV Miller Freeman
MF93-9-10 54?36.25?N 133?21.2?W 329 24 Jul 1993
MF01-04-01 55?43?41?N 156?32?04?W 235 Oct 2000
FV Sea Storm
150 52?30?57?N 173?29?35?W 213?220 21 Jul 2002
RV Verstraalen
941-53 52?20?N 170?42?W 224 13 Jun 1994
941-118 51?32?04?N 176?35?55?W 427 2 Jul 1994