Pacifigorgia marviva(Anthozoa: Octocorallia) a new species from Coiba National Park, Pacific Panama

A new species of shallow-water gorgonian coral, Pacifigorgia marviva, has been discovered in Coiba National Park, Pacific Panama. This species is characterized by its white to cream, small, erect colonies with 1–4 fronds, short or absent stems, and sparsely distributed polyp mounds. Morphological analysis and scanning electron microscopy revealed unique sclerite structures, including long spindles and thin anthocodial rods. The discovery increases the diversity of Pacifigorgia species to 35, with 20 found in Panama, representing 57% of the genus in the eastern Pacific. This finding highlights the rich biodiversity of Coiba National Park and its Special Zone of Marine Protection.

Guzman, H. M., & Breedy, O. (2011). Pacifigorgia marviva(Anthozoa: Octocorallia) a new species from Coiba National Park, Pacific Panama. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 92(4), 693–698. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0025315411000373