Morphology and taxonomy of a new species of Leptogorgia (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Gorgoniidae) in Cocos Island National Park, Pacific Costa Rica

A new species of shallow-water gorgonian coral, Leptogorgia tricorata, has been discovered at Cocos Island National Park, Costa Rica. This species is distinguished by its unique branching pattern, small size, bright yellow coloration, elongated spindles (up to 0.2 mm), and the presence of tentacular rods. Found at depths of 14–22 meters on rocky islets, L. tricorata represents a rare addition to the shallow-water gorgoniid diversity in the region, with only three species currently documented in the area. The discovery was made through morphological and taxonomic analysis, comparing the new species with other Leptogorgia species reported from the eastern Pacific. This finding contributes to our understanding of marine biodiversity in Cocos Island National Park.

Breedy, O., & Cortés, J. (2011). Morphology and taxonomy of a new species of Leptogorgia (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Gorgoniidae) in Cocos Island National Park, Pacific Costa Rica. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, 124(2), 62–69. https://doi.org/10.2988/10-18.1