Zootaxa
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Distichopathes filix reaches a similar size to Distichopathes hickersonae, but is not nearly as bushy and expansive, yet also displays a beautiful, appealing, bright yellow coloration.
The azooxanthellate coral forms very sparsely branched colonies that branch in a single plane.
The pinnation is bilateral, and the pinnules in each lateral row alternate with those in the opposite row.
The polyps have a transverse diameter of 0.7–1.0 mm and a spacing of 1.1–1.2 mm
Distichopathes filix has previously been reported from the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico at depths between 51 and 695 meters (Opresko, 2009; Cairns et al., 1993; Opresko, 1972; Brook, 1889; Pourtales, 1871).
The only specimen examined from Bermuda, see photos, was collected at a depth of 304 meters.
Due to its deep-sea distribution, little information is available about this species to date.
Synonyms:
Antipathes felix Pourtalès, 1867 · unaccepted > misspelling - incorrect subsequent spelling
Antipathes filix Pourtalès, 1867 · unaccepted (new combination)
Antipathes melancholica Duchassaing, 1870 · unaccepted
Aphanipathes eupteridea (Lamouroux, 1824) · unaccepted > superseded combination
Aphanipathes filix (Pourtalès, 1867) · unaccepted (new combination)
Parantipathes (Aphanipathes) filix (Pourtalès, 1867) · unaccepted > superseded combination
Parantipathes filix (Pourtalès, 1867) · unaccepted > superseded combination
The azooxanthellate coral forms very sparsely branched colonies that branch in a single plane.
The pinnation is bilateral, and the pinnules in each lateral row alternate with those in the opposite row.
The polyps have a transverse diameter of 0.7–1.0 mm and a spacing of 1.1–1.2 mm
Distichopathes filix has previously been reported from the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico at depths between 51 and 695 meters (Opresko, 2009; Cairns et al., 1993; Opresko, 1972; Brook, 1889; Pourtales, 1871).
The only specimen examined from Bermuda, see photos, was collected at a depth of 304 meters.
Due to its deep-sea distribution, little information is available about this species to date.
Synonyms:
Antipathes felix Pourtalès, 1867 · unaccepted > misspelling - incorrect subsequent spelling
Antipathes filix Pourtalès, 1867 · unaccepted (new combination)
Antipathes melancholica Duchassaing, 1870 · unaccepted
Aphanipathes eupteridea (Lamouroux, 1824) · unaccepted > superseded combination
Aphanipathes filix (Pourtalès, 1867) · unaccepted (new combination)
Parantipathes (Aphanipathes) filix (Pourtalès, 1867) · unaccepted > superseded combination
Parantipathes filix (Pourtalès, 1867) · unaccepted > superseded combination
