Gnathophyllum elegans (Risso, 1816)

Gnathophyllum elegans – Corbari et al. 2015: 165–167, French Guiana.

Distribution/Habitat

ATL-MED; marine; 0– 115 m.

Remark

There are9lots of this species in MNHN from the Guyane 2014Expedition(60–115m),determined by X.Li. Three lots, MNHN-IU-2013-2449, 2451 (http://coldb.mnhn.fr/catalognumber/mnhn/iu/2013-2451), and 2464 have color photos which leave no doubt on the determination, the color pattern being distinctive from the 2 other species of Gnathophyllum already reported from WA ( G. americanum, G. circellum). Gnathophyllum elegans is mostly EA and Mediterranean in its distribution (Udekem d’Acoz 1999: 93) but has obviously also colonized WA where it is perhaps ‘invasive’. This seems to be the first WA record of this species; its depth range being extended from 30 m to 115 m.