78. Halechiniscus macrocephalus Grimaldi de Zio, D’Addabbo Gallo & Morone De Lucia, 1988

Halechiniscus macrocephalus n. sp. (Grimaldi de Zio et al. 1988)

Halechiniscus macrocephalus Grimaldi de Zio et al., 1988 (D’Addabbo Gallo et al. 2001, Grimaldi de Zio & D’Addabbo Gallo 2001, Accogli et al. 2011)

Terra typica: Ionian Sea (Italy, Europe)

Adriatic Sea:

• 42°06 ′ N, 15°29′E; 9 m bsl: [FAO37] Italy, Foggia Province, Tremiti Islands, southern area of San Domino Island, in the proximity of Punta Zio Cesare, submarine cave Grotta delle Viole, ca. 10 m from the cave’s entrance, coarse organogenic detritus. D’Addabbo Gallo et al. (2001), Grimaldi de Zio & D’Addabbo Gallo (2001), Grimaldi de Zio et al. (2003)

Ionian Sea:

• 39°52′27′′N, 16°43′25′′E; 80–100 m bsl: [FAO37] Type Locality: Italy, Cosenza Province, High Ionian Sea, Amendolara Shoal, coralligenous detritus with mud. Grimaldi de Zio et al. (1988)

• 39 ° 51.26′N, 18°23.55′E; 20 m bsl: [FAO37] Italy, Lecce Province, Gagliano, coarse sand. Accogli et al. (2011)

• 39°51′20′′N, 18°23′59′′E; 0 m bsl: [FAO37] Italy, Lecce Province, Gagliano del Capo. Grimaldi de Zio et al. (2003)

Tyrrhenian Sea:

• 40°20′30′′N, 09°40′15′′E; 0–60 m bsl: [FAO37] Italy, Sardinia Island, Nuoro Province, Orosei Gulf, sand and coralligenous detritus. Grimaldi de Zio & D’Addabbo Gallo (2001), Grimaldi de Zio et al. (2003)

• 38°36′N, 14°55′E; 40 m bsl: [FAO37] Italy, Aeolian Islands, Secca del Capo, coralligenous bank, subtidal zone, coarse coralligenous detritus. Grimaldi de Zio & D’Addabbo Gallo (2001)

Record numbers (Sea/Ocean classification): Adriatic Sea: 1, Ionian Sea: 3, Tyrrhenian Sea: 2; total: 6.

Record numbers (FAO classification): FAO37: 6; total: 6.

Remarks: This is a rare Mediterranean species reported mainly from the subtidal zone (including a marine cave) down to ca. 100 m bsl, from sand and coralligenous and organogenic detritus.