Remarkable sessile fauna associated with deep coral and other calcareous substrates in the Strait of Sicily, Mediterranean Sea

Deep-sea dredging of sediment-starved steep reliefs in the Strait of Sicily (cruise CS96 of RV Urania) recovered various benthic organisms previously unknown or poorly documented in the Mediterranean basin. This Mediterranean case-study refers to deep coral substrates represented by loose or cemented skeletal remains of Desmophyllum, Lophelia and Madrepora, subfossil giant oyster shells, micriticised sponges, from c. 250-1000 m depth. Here we present some of the more remarkable species: one foraminiferan (Planogypsina?); the sponges Stylocordyla pellita, Sphinctrella gracilis and Siphonidium ramosum; a bioluminescent zoantharian (still unidentified); the boring actinian Fagesia loveni; the stoloniferous octocoral Scleranthelia musiva; the gorgonian Dendrobrachia fallax; and the holothurian Psolidium complanatum.