The large arborescent Leiopathes glaberrima (Fig. 10.11) forms bright orange
colonies up to 2 m tall. It is widespread, known from the Pacific and the northeastern
Atlantic Oceans (Macaronesian Archipelago and Bay of Biscay) and in the Mediterranean Sea, mainly in its central part (Massi et al. 2018). This species occurs in a
broad bathymetric range (known depth range between 70 and 790 m) on rocky
shoals, moderately silted, under low to moderate currents. It has proved to be an
optimal indicator of the stability of the deep marine environments found at such
depths (Deidun et al. 2015), being one of the most long-lived organisms known,
reaching an age of up to 4000 years (Roark et al. 2006). In the Alboran Sea has been
recorded in the Cabliers (Pardo et al. 2011; Corbera et al. 2019) and Seco de los
Olivos Banks (de la Torriente et al. 2018) between 200 and 400 m depth.
Antipathes dichotoma is an Atlanto-Mediterranean species characterized by tall
arborescent colonies with loose, long, flexible branches and large polyps. This
species has a wide bathymetric distribution range and typically occurs on isolated
rocky habitats surrounded by detritic or muddy seafloors under moderate currents
and high sedimentation rates (Bo et al. 2011). In the Alboran Sea, there are records
from the Cabliers and Algarrobo Banks (350–400 m) (Pardo et al. 2011; Corbera
et al. 2019) and Seco de los Olivos (70–250 m) (de la Torriente et al. 2018).
Parantipathes larix (Fig. 10.11) is a monopodial or sparsely branched black coral
up to 2 m tall showing a characteristic bottle-brush pinnulation pattern. This AtlantoMediterranean species lives on rocky bottoms both along the continental shelf and in
deeper waters, usually between 200 and 700 m in isolate banks, often very sparsely
distributed (Angiolillo and Canese 2018). Exceptional forests dominated by dense
monospecific populations of P. larix were recorded only off the Island of
Montecristo (Tuscan Archipelago, Tyrrhenian Sea) (Bo et al. 2014). In the Alboran
Sea, it has been recorded in the Cabliers Bank at about 400 m depth (Pardo et al.
2011; Corbera et al. 2019) and in the Seco de los Olivos between 200 and 500 m
(de la Torriente et al. 2018).
Unlike what occurs with red and pink corals (Coralliidae), all species of black
corals (Antipatharia) are already included in CITES Appendix II (CITES 2019), and
five Mediterranean species are listed in Annex II of Barcelona Convention.
10.3.5 Sea Pens
The anthozoans of the order Pennatulacea are commonly known as sea pens and are
typical representatives of soft bottoms, where they bury part of the colony in the
substrate. About a dozen species are known to occur in the Mediterranean Sea.
Pennatulaceans, together with the alcyonaceans of the family Isididae (commonly
known as bamboo corals), are the main components of forest-like habitats on soft
bottoms. These habitats are considered key sites of aggregation for biodiversity and
sustain a high abundance of species of commercial interest. The sea pen fields have
been listed as vulnerable marine ecosystems worldwide (Otero et al. 2017). Despite
their ecological value, pennatulacean habitats have been overlooked compared with
386
J. Templado et al.
colonies up to 2 m tall. It is widespread, known from the Pacific and the northeastern
Atlantic Oceans (Macaronesian Archipelago and Bay of Biscay) and in the Mediterranean Sea, mainly in its central part (Massi et al. 2018). This species occurs in a
broad bathymetric range (known depth range between 70 and 790 m) on rocky
shoals, moderately silted, under low to moderate currents. It has proved to be an
optimal indicator of the stability of the deep marine environments found at such
depths (Deidun et al. 2015), being one of the most long-lived organisms known,
reaching an age of up to 4000 years (Roark et al. 2006). In the Alboran Sea has been
recorded in the Cabliers (Pardo et al. 2011; Corbera et al. 2019) and Seco de los
Olivos Banks (de la Torriente et al. 2018) between 200 and 400 m depth.
Antipathes dichotoma is an Atlanto-Mediterranean species characterized by tall
arborescent colonies with loose, long, flexible branches and large polyps. This
species has a wide bathymetric distribution range and typically occurs on isolated
rocky habitats surrounded by detritic or muddy seafloors under moderate currents
and high sedimentation rates (Bo et al. 2011). In the Alboran Sea, there are records
from the Cabliers and Algarrobo Banks (350–400 m) (Pardo et al. 2011; Corbera
et al. 2019) and Seco de los Olivos (70–250 m) (de la Torriente et al. 2018).
Parantipathes larix (Fig. 10.11) is a monopodial or sparsely branched black coral
up to 2 m tall showing a characteristic bottle-brush pinnulation pattern. This AtlantoMediterranean species lives on rocky bottoms both along the continental shelf and in
deeper waters, usually between 200 and 700 m in isolate banks, often very sparsely
distributed (Angiolillo and Canese 2018). Exceptional forests dominated by dense
monospecific populations of P. larix were recorded only off the Island of
Montecristo (Tuscan Archipelago, Tyrrhenian Sea) (Bo et al. 2014). In the Alboran
Sea, it has been recorded in the Cabliers Bank at about 400 m depth (Pardo et al.
2011; Corbera et al. 2019) and in the Seco de los Olivos between 200 and 500 m
(de la Torriente et al. 2018).
Unlike what occurs with red and pink corals (Coralliidae), all species of black
corals (Antipatharia) are already included in CITES Appendix II (CITES 2019), and
five Mediterranean species are listed in Annex II of Barcelona Convention.
10.3.5 Sea Pens
The anthozoans of the order Pennatulacea are commonly known as sea pens and are
typical representatives of soft bottoms, where they bury part of the colony in the
substrate. About a dozen species are known to occur in the Mediterranean Sea.
Pennatulaceans, together with the alcyonaceans of the family Isididae (commonly
known as bamboo corals), are the main components of forest-like habitats on soft
bottoms. These habitats are considered key sites of aggregation for biodiversity and
sustain a high abundance of species of commercial interest. The sea pen fields have
been listed as vulnerable marine ecosystems worldwide (Otero et al. 2017). Despite
their ecological value, pennatulacean habitats have been overlooked compared with
386
J. Templado et al.