Savalia lucifica

Savalia lucifica, commonly known as the luminescent parazoanthid, is a form of false black coral in the family Parazoanthidae. It is known from the Pacific Ocean where it lives at depths of around 700 m (2,297 ft) off the coast of California, but more recently (2011) has been discovered in the Mediterranean Sea at a depth of 270 m (886 ft). This zoanthid exhibits bioluminescence.[2]

Savalia lucifica
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Anthozoa
Order: Zoantharia
Family: Parazoanthidae
Genus: Savalia
Species:
S. lucifica
Binomial name
Savalia lucifica
(Cutress C.E. & Pequegnat W.E., 1960)[1]
Synonyms
  • Parazoanthus lucificum Cutress & Pequenat, 1960

Distribution

Savalia lucifica was first described by Cutress & Pequegnat in 1960. The type specimen was recovered from the seabed at a depth of 700 m (2,297 ft) in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California. In 2011 the same species was recovered from a depth of 270 m (886 ft) in the Mediterranean Sea by a robot submersible operated from the Italian oceanographic ship "Astrea". This vessel was undertaking exploration and research into the deepwater red coral populations of the Aegean Sea at the time.[2]

Ecology

Savalia lucifica emits light when stimulated, for example when stroked gently by a finger. In the Mediterranean Sea,this zoanthid uses the deepwater gorgonian Callogorgia verticillata as a substrate.[3]

gollark: DON'T DO IT!
gollark: Mostly I just use the 3dm file saved on my workstation.
gollark: I forgot.
gollark: Who pinged me? I'm very busy.
gollark: I haven't been on in [REDACTED].

References
  1. Sinniger, Frederic (2015). "Savalia lucifica (Cutress C.E. & Pequegnat W.E., 1960)". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2015-05-30.
  2. Laura Spano (2011-10-18). "Il corallo che si illumina nelle acque di Marettimo". ISPRA (in Italian). RepTV. Retrieved 2015-05-30.
  3. "ISPRA: scoperto in Sicilia un corallo dotato di luce propria. Localizzata dalla nave dell'Istituto un'eccezionale specie bioluminescente". Comunicati stampa (in Italian). ISPRA. 2011-10-14. Retrieved 2015-05-30.
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