Schizomavella (Schizomavella) linearis profunda Harmelin & d’Hondt, 1992a

(Figs 5C, D; 6A)

Schizomavella linearis profunda Harmelin & d’Hondt, 1992a: 45, pl. VI, figs A, B; Souto et al. 2014: 143, fig. 6D.

Material examined. MNCN 25.03 /4205: DA08, Gazul MV, 486–487 m depth, 24 June 2010, INDEMARES CHI- CA Project, IEO coll., on shells; MNCN 25.03 /4206: BT03, Gazul MV, 460–462 m depth, 23 June 2010, INDE- MARES CHICA Project, IEO coll., on MDACs; MNCN 25.03 /4207: BT06, Gazul MV, 422–450 m depth, 25 June 2010, INDEMARES CHICA Project, IEO coll., on MDACs.

Remarks. Schizomavella (Schizomavella) linearis profunda described by Harmelin & d’Hondt (1992a) differs from S. (S.) linearis (Hassall, 1841) in having 5–7 (more frequently 6) distal oral spines constantly in all zooids (in the typical form they disappear in older generations).

The colonies collected in the present study (Fig. 5C) were considered to belong to the subspecies profunda because of the number of oral spines (Fig. 5D). Other similarity is the shape of the avicularia which have a triangular rostrum transversely directed (Figs 5D, 6A). Nevertheless, the paired lateral oral avicularia are positioned more distally than in the holotype of the subspecies. This variability was also observed in the S. (S.) linearis profunda reported by Souto et al. (2014) from Portugal. A single zooid with a supernumerary avicularium associated with the ovicell (Fig. 6A) was observed in one colony of the present study; this avicularium, although rare, was considered, until now, typical only of the original form ( S. (S.) linearis) (Reverter-Gil & Fernández-Pulpeiro 1996).

Habitat and associated species. This species was associated with muddy-medium sandy sea bottoms with C. cidaris, F. chunii, sponges ( T. muricata) and sea pens ( K. stelliferum and F. quadrangularis), and fine sand with MDAC, M. oculata, L. phalangium and sponges ( Cladocroce spathiformis Topsent).