A survey on Anthozoa and its habitats along the Northwest African coast and some islands: new records, descriptions of new taxa and biogeographical, ecological and taxonomical comments. Part I.

Abstract

Several species of Actiniaria and Scleractinia have been searched and collected along theWesternAfrican coast and some of its archipelagos. This paper constitutes the first part of an extensive paper and it is focused onMorocco and Cape Verde, although some material and images from other spots (Canary Islands, Madeira, Gabon or even Mauritania) are included. The second part will also include some material from Gulf of Guinea. Four new species and a new genus are described, and five new records are also included in the paper. Bellactis caeruleus, Tubastrea caboverdiana, Thalamophyllia wirtzi and Africana wirtzi are the four new species and the new genus described. Some species, due to previous lack of good descriptions, are presented more deeply from the point of view of the descriptive aspect.