On the reproduction of the solitary cold-water coral Fungiacyathus fragilis Sars, 1872 (Cnidaria: Scleractinia), and a new record in the SW Atlantic Ocean deep sea

Abstract

The first record of the solitary stony coral Fungiacyathus (Fungiacyathus) fragilis is reported from the southwestern Atlantic Ocean. Specimens were collected at the Mar del Plata submarine canyon in the Argentinian continental slope at 2419–3447 m depth during 2012 and 2013. The four specimens studied through histological sections were gonochoric. A high fecundity was recorded for one female (26,496 oocytes per polyp). The maximum size of oocytes was 786 µm suggesting lecitotrophic development, also no planulae were observed. Both previtellogenic and large vitellogenic oocytes were found in all females. Evidence of asexual reproduction was identifed in corallum of a dried specimen.