Alternatipathes Molodtsova and Opresko, 2017

Opresko, Dennis M. & Wagner, Daniel, 2020, New species of black corals (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Antipatharia) from deep- sea seamounts and ridges in the North Pacific, Zootaxa 4868 (4), pp. 543-559 : 550

Alternatipathes Molodtsova and Opresko, 2017

Diagnosis. Corallum attached to substrate; monopodial, unbranched or with a few basal branches, and pinnulate. When present, pinnate branches of first order develop from lowermost pinnules of stem. Pinnules simple, arranged alternately in two lateral rows. Length of pinnules on stem and branches usually decreasing in a distal direction forming a triangularly shaped outline. Striatum absent. Spines conical, smooth, simple (or rarely forked), with acute to slightly rounded apex and flared base. Spines often larger on polypar side of pinnule. Polyps 2–7 mm in transverse diameter.

Type species. Umbellapathes bipinnata Opresko, 2005 .

Remarks. Three species are currently assigned to this genus; A. bipinnata ( Opresko, 2005) , A. alternata ( Brook, 1889) , and the new species described below.