Benthodytes gosarsi Gebruk, 2008

Reports for the Azores:

Benthodytes gosarsi $ Gebruk, 2008: 49–52, figs. 1A, 2–3; Rogacheva et al. 2013: 598–599, fig. 17E; Gebruk et al. 2014: 160.

Type locality: Mid Atlantic Ridge, Azores (42°55’N, 30°20’W) .

See: Gebruk (2008); Rogacheva et al. (2012: 217, figs. J–L; 2013: 598–599, fig. 17E).

Occurrence: North Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic Ridge from Iceland south to the Azores (Gebruk 2008, Rogacheva et al. 2013).

Depth: 2,238–3,680 m (Rogacheva et al. 2013); AZO: 2,954–2,968 m (Gebruk 2008).

Habitat: occasional swimmer (benthopelagic), on soft substrates (Gebruk 2008, Rogacheva et al. 2012).

Remarks: Gebruk (2008) described Benthodytes gosarsi, based on specimens collected by G.O. Sars (MAR– ECO expedition) in the northern-most waters of the Azorean EEZ. More recently, Rogacheva et al. (2012) observed in vivo animals belonging to this species swimming above the sea-floor in the area of the Charles-Gibbs Fracture Zone, north of the Azores. These authors inferred that B. gosarsi is deposit-feeder that rarely swims and does so usually as a response to local disturbances or to travel to a different location on the sea floor.