The genus Bebryce (Cnidaria, Octocorallia, Plexauridae) at Japan, with descriptions of three new species

Abstract

Three new deep-water species of Bebryce from Japan are described and depicted using Scanning Electron Microscopy: B. otsuchiensis sp. n., B. rotunda sp. n., and B. satsumaensis sp. n. Bebryce studeri Whitelegge, 1897, was reported from Japanese waters for the first time, bringing the total of Japanese Bebryce species to six. Five of these six species seem to be endemic to Japanese waters and all occur in deep water up to 213 m. A key to the Bebryce species is presented.