Trissopathes Opresko, 2003

Lima, Manuela M., Cordeiro, Ralf T. S. & Perez, Carlos D., 2019, Black Corals (Anthozoa: Antipatharia) from the Southwestern Atlantic, Zootaxa 4692 (1), pp. 1-67 : 17

Genus Trissopathes Opresko, 2003

Type-species. Trissopathes pseudotristicha Opresko, 2003 (by original designation).

Diagnosis. “Primary pinnules arranged in four regular rows; subequal in size or with lateral/posterolateral primary pinnules longer than anterior ones. Lateral/posterolateral primary pinnules usually without subpinnules; anterior primaries simple or with up to six or more subpinnules. Subpinnules commonly arranged in subopposite pairs (rarely alternating)” ( Opresko, 2003).

Remarks. The genus Trissopathes Opresko, 2003 comprises three species [ T. tetracrada Opresko, 2003 , T. pseudotristicha Opresko, 2003 and T. tristicha ( Van Pesch, 1914) ], distributed in the Indian Ocean and on Pacific seamounts ( Opresko, 2003; Molodtsova, 2005). As yet, there is a single Atlantic record of T. tetracrada , off Cabo Verde Islands, between 1450 and 2220 m ( Opresko, 2003). To distinguish between groups of pinnules/subpinnules and the formation of new branches, it is necessary to check the size and arrangement of the pinnules on the branches. Thus, large pinnule-like processes, with subpinnules, grouped in four rows are considered herein as new branches.

Distribution. North Pacific, IndoPacific, the Great Australian Bight and Atlantic ( Opresko, 2003).