Corallimorphus pilatus

Fig. 5 J, K.

LV- 82 - 1, 55.4171 ºN 167.2773 ºE – 55.4165 ºN 167.2763 ºE, depth 386 – 382 m, several specimens collected (samples 3 and 7) and many specimens photographed; LV- 82 - 2, 55.4167 ºN 167.2764 ºE – 55.4158 ºN 167.2766 ºE, depth 383 – 400 m, many specimens photographed; LV- 82 - 3, 55.3827 ºN 167. 2626 ºE – 55.3816 ºN 167.2608 ºE, depth 492 – 464 m, several specimens collected (samples 1, 2 and 3) and many specimens photographed; LV- 82 - 4, 55.3817 ºN 167.2612 ºE – 55.3820 ºN 167.2611 ºE, depth 465 – 451 m, many specimens photographed; LV- 82 - 8, 55.3814 ºN 167.2617 ºE – 55.3825 ºN 167.2617 ºE, depth 469 – 475 m, several specimens collected (samples 2 and 7) and many specimens photographed.

REMARKS. The specimens are of moderate size, very abundant on the upper slope and top of the Piip Volcano at 372 – 1053 m. The white form (Fig. 5 J) with bright-white acrospheres at the tip of the tentacles dominates on the northern top, occurs near bacterial mats. The brown form with white acrospheres dominates at the southern top (Fig. 5 K) and occurs directly on the seeps on bacterial mats. The species is hexamerous with up to five cycles of the marginal tentacles, 12 (two cycles) discal tentacles located in the endocoels of the first and the second cycles. Large specimens have about 12 discal and 49 marginal tentacles (the ratio is 1: 4, as in C. pilatus). The height and diameter of the preserved specimens is up to 16 mm. There are 12 pairs of perfect mesenteries and very small miscrocnemes of third and fourth cycles. Corallimorphus pilatus appear to be most closely related to the present specimens, its original description is based on numerous specimens from 198 – 900 m in the eastern Pacific from British Columbia to Southern California. Subsequently it was found from much greater depths (up to 2000 m) (Eash-Loucks, Fautin, 2012). Some specimens reported here were photographed at great depth (3545 – 3561 m) on the norther slope of the Piip Volcano, their morphology and external appearance are similar to those from shallower waters. Another deep-sea species (2834 m, one specimen in the photo) differs significantly from other specimens recorded on the Vulcanologov Massif in its dark bluish-brown color, body shape, high oral cone and, possibly, more numerous discal tentacles.

MATERIAL. AMK- 22 - 2310, 55.3896 ° N 167. 2616 ° E – 55.385 ° N 167.2566 ° E, depth 602 – 750 m, dredge 1; 55.3753 ° N 167.2468 ° E – 55.3833 ° N 167. 265 ° E, depth 580 – 750 m, dredge 2; eight specimens collected. AMK- 22 - 2311, submersible Mir- 1, dive 6 / 50: 55.4166 ° N 167.272 ° E, depth 410 m, sample 3; 55.4163 ° N 167.2721 ° E, depth 409 m, sample 4; 55. 4161 ° N 167.2723 ° E, depth 396 m, sample 5; 24 specimens collected. AMK- 22 - 2320, submersible Mir- 2, dive 15 / 48: 55.3858 ° N 167.2583 ° E, depth 524 m, sample 2, one specimen collected. LV- 75 - 1, 55.4246 ºN 167.2903 ºE, depth 1053 m, one specimen photographed; LV- 75 - 2, 55.4173 ºN 167.2766 ºE – 55.4165 ºN 167.2749 ºE, depth 381 – 407 m, one specimen collected (sample 2) and many specimens photographed; LV- 75 - 3, 55.4165 ºN 167. 2735 ºE – 55.4164 ºN 167.2759 ºE, depth 386 – 390 m, many specimens photographed; LV- 75 - 4, 55.4165 ºN 167.2749 ºE – 55.4167 ºN 167.2759 ºE, depth 390 – 399 m, many specimens photographed; LV- 75 - 5, 55.4166 ºN 167.2749 ºE – 55.4166 ºN 167.2755 ºE, depth 372 – 394 m, one specimen collected (sample 2) and many specimens photographed; LV- 75 - 6, 55. 4166 ºN 167.2743 ºE – 55.4165 ºN 167.2762 ºE, depth 372 – 396 m, many specimens photographed; LV- 75 - 7, 55.4174 ºN 167.2747 ºE – 55.4166 ºN 167. 2752 ºE, depth 421 – 409 m, many specimens photographed; LV- 75 - 8, 55.4163 ºN 167.2755 ºE – 55. 4161 ºN 167.2749 ºE, depth 407 – 386 m, four specimens collected (sample 1) and many specimens photographed; LV- 75 - 9, 55.4180 ºN 167.2760 ºE – 55.4161 ºN 167.2742 ºE, depth 424 – 349 m, many specimens photographed; LV- 75 - 10, 55.4169 ºN 167. 2744 ºE – 55.4172 ºN 167.2748 ºE, depth 407 – 411 m, many specimens photographed; LV- 75 - 11, 55. 3821 ºN 167.2609 ºE, depth 470 m, three specimens collected (sample 1) and many specimens photographed; LV- 75 - 12, 55.3823 ºN 167.2608 ºE – 55. 3810 ºN 167.2611 ºE, depth 468 – 474 m, many specimens photographed; LV- 75 - 13, 55.3822 ºN 167. 2608 ºE – 55.3826 ºN 167.2605 ºE, depth 466 – 472 m, one specimen collected (sample 1) and a few specimens photographed; LV- 75 - 14, 55.3822 ºN 167. 2611 ºE – 55.3820 ºN 167.2607 ºE, depth 460 – 465 m, a few specimens photographed; LV- 75 - 15, 55. 3822 ºN 167.2612 ºE – 55.3821 ºN 167.2612 ºE, depth 466 – 459 m, several specimens collected (sample 1) and many specimens photographed; LV- 75 - 19, 55. 3822 ºN 167.2625 ºE – 55.3819 ºN 167.2606 ºE, depth 494 – 453 m, a few specimens photographed; LV- 75 - 20, 55.3824 ºN 167.2618 ºE – 55.3822 ºN 167.2611 ºE, depth 481 – 470 m, many specimens photographed; LV- 75 - 21, 55.4812 ºN 167.2572 ºE, depth 2834 m, one specimen photographed; LV- 75 - 22, 55.5100 ºN 167.3240 ºE – 55.5087 ºN 167.3236 ºE, depth 3561 – 3545 m, five specimens photographed.