Molecular phylogeny and morphological comparison of the deep-sea genus Alloptilella Li, Zhan & Xu, 2021 (Octocorallia, Pennatulacea)

Abstract A previously described species and a new one belonging to the recently sea pen genus Alloptilella Li, Zhan & Xu, 2021, are here illustrated based on morphological molecular study of materials collected in Tasman Sea (SW Pacific) at Puerto Rico (Caribbean Sea), respectively. The species, moseleyi comb. nov. (Kölliker, 1880) williamsi sp. nov., overall agreement with generic diagnosis ., type splendida 2021. single relatively large colony (55 95 cm total length) is known for each three species. transferred differ from having an opposite, rather than alternate, placement polyp leaves along rachis, colouration autozooids, mesozooids (in case A. comb . nov.), spicular features (e.g. maximum sizes different parts colony, presence/absence tentacular sclerites). first recorded so far Atlantic Ocean, all other being western Pacific. comparison set concatenated sequences four markers (three mitochondrial genes ( mtMutS , ND2 COI ) nuclear segment 28S )) relates studied published within named Clade II previous general phylogenetic studies octocoral Order Pennatulacea. monophyletic grouping, sister group Scytalium Herklots, 1858. available information Ptilella Gray, 1870, reinforced specimens inflata (Kükenthal, 1910) off Namibian coast (SE Atlantic).