Corallum branched and pinnulate; flabellate. Primary pinnules arranged bilaterally and alternately, secondary pinnules arranged uniserially. Spines up to 0.06 mm tall, conical, slightly compressed laterally with rounded apex, smooth or with knob-like protuberances. Polyps slightly transversely elongate up to 1.2 mm in transverse diameter, subequal tentacles, sagittals positioned lower than laterals, and a raised oral cone.

Examination of SEM images of the spines of the new family revealed that most spines are triangular and smooth with un-ornamented surfaces with a small number of polypar spines possessing a few small, rounded, low-relief, knob-like protuberances (Fig. 2A). Also, the rows become much less regular; however, the number of rows per view, and the density of spines in each row do not differ substantially from that on the pinnules (Fig. 6D–G). These spine characteristics differ from other families, for example: Antipathidae Ehrenberg, 1834 has spines that are either perfectly smooth (Fig. 2B) or are papillose with or without apical bifurcations or multiple knobs (Fig. 2C). Aphanipathidae Opresko, 2004 typically has spines with distinct tubercles (Fig. 2D). Stylopathidae Opresko, 2006 has spines that are small, conical, smooth-surfaced, and distally directed (Fig. 2E). Myriopathidae Opresko, 2001 has blade-like spines, often with very small, elongated papillae or fine striations (Fig. 2F), and in which the spines increased in density on the larger branches and stem. Cladopathidae Kinoshita, 1910 has spines that are smooth, triangular, or conical, and often distally directed (Fig. 2G). Schizopathidae Brook, 1889 has spines that are simple or multi-lobed, smooth, and conical or triangular (Fig. 2H). Leiopathidae Haime, 1849 has small spines that are simple or multi-lobed, smooth and are triangular, conical, or blister-shaped (Fig. 2I); often poorly developed or absent on older parts of the corallum (Molodtsova 2011).

Examination of in situ images of the polyps of the new family revealed a slightly transversely elongated external morphology (Fig. 3A). The tentacles are subequal in length, cylindrical with rounded tips and are relatively short, being no more than 1.5× the transverse diameter of the polyp. The number of mesenteries in the polyps of the Ameripathidae has not yet been determined. The new family has polyps like Myriopathidae (Fig. 3B); except in Myriopathidae, polyps are more circular in shape with tentacles equally distributed and positioned around the polyp mouth. The new family also has polyps like Stylopathidae (Fig. 3C, D); except polyps are not as transversely elongated as the new family. The remaining families have different polyp characteristics: The polyps of the Antipathidae (Fig. 3E) and Aphanipathidae (Fig. 3F) tend to be as long as wide (sometimes transversely compressed), and with expanded tentacles ≤ 3× the transverse diameter of the polyps and tentacles are not subequal in length. The polyps of Schizopathidae (Fig. 3G) and Cladopathidae (Fig. 3H) are more transversely elongated than the new family. Leiopathidae polyps are transversely compressed (Fig. 3I).

Figure 2. 

Skeletal spines of antipatharian families A Ameripathidae (Ameripathes pseudomyriophylla gen. et sp. nov.) B Antipathidae (Antipathes furcata Gray, 1857) C Antipathidae (Antipathes falkorae Horowitz, 2022) D Aphanipathidae (Aphanipathes sarothamnoides Brook, 1889) E Stylopathidae (Stylopathes litocrada Opresko, 2006) F Myriopathidae (Myriopathes cf. japonica (Brook, 1889)) G Cladopathidae (Cladopathes plumosa Brook, 1889) H Schizopathidae (Schizopathes affinis Brook, 1889) I Leiopathidae (Leiopathes sp. of Hamie 1849).

Figure 3. 

Polyps of live corals representing different antipatharian families A Ameripathidae (Ameripathes pseudomyriophylla gen. et sp. nov.) B Myriopathidae (Myriopathes sp.) C Stylopathidae (Stylopathes sp.) D Stylopathidae (Stylopathes sp.) E Antipathidae (Antipathes atlantica Gray, 1857) F Aphanipathidae (Anozopathes sp. Opresko & Bo, 2021) G Schizopathidae (Bathypathes sp.) H Cladopathidae (Heteropathes sp.) I Leiopathidae (Leiopathes sp.). Photo credits: A, C, D (Schmidt Ocean Institute); B (M. Bo); E (S. Weinberg); F, G, H (NOAA/OER; I (P. Etnoyer).

Antipathidae differs in corallum pattern with an unpinnulated corallum compared to the pinnulated corallum in the new family. Cladopathidae differs in polyp size and spine ornamentation, with polyps measuring at least 1.8–2.0 mm compared to up to 1.2 mm in transverse diameter in the new family and possessing smooth spines rather than ones with knob-like protuberances. Leiopathidae differs in corallum pattern, possessing an unpinnulated corallum compared to a pinnulated corallum in the new family. Aphanipathidae differs in spine height, spine ornamentation type, and polyp characteristics, possessing spines up to 0.5 mm tall, distinct tubercles on the surfaces of skeletal spines, and polyps that are as long as they are wide or can be transversely compressed, respectively, compared to spine heights 0.06 mm tall, low-relief, knob-like protuberances on the surfaces of skeletal spines, and slightly transversely elongate polyps with short, subequal tentacles with blunt, rounded tips in the new family. Myriopathidae differs in spine ornamentation type with striations on the surfaces of skeletal spines compared to the spines with a few small, rounded, low-relief, knob-like protuberances in the new family. Stylopathidae differs in subpinnule arrangement and spine surface ornamentation, presenting verticils or irregularly bilateral and smooth spines, respectively, compared to uniserially arranged subpinnules and spines with low-relief, knob-like protuberances spines in the new family. Schizopathidae differs in polyp size and spine ornamentation, having larger polyps (2–12 mm in transverse diameter) and smooth spines, respectively, compared to smaller polyps (up to 1.2 mm in transverse diameter) and spines with knob-like protuberances in the new family.

The recognition of the new family is further supported by the phylogenetic analysis (see further below) conducted on the holotype and one paratype showing that Ameripathidae is a distinct lineage sister to the Antipathidae + Aphanipathidae + Myriopathidae + Stylopathidae, representing a novel deep divergence in the order Antipatharia (Fig. 4).

Figure 4. 

Maximum likelihood phylogeny of all black coral families and the new family based on a 50% complete matrix containing 741 loci. Boxed taxa (blue outline) represent the new species. Ultrafast bootstrap support is 100% at all nodes except for two nodes, which are noted in the phylogeny. The phylogeny was rooted to the Leiopathidae clade based on results from Horowitz et al. (2023b).

Ameripathes pseudomyriophylla sp. nov. (see below).

Corallum sparsely branched, generally in one plane to the seventh order or more. Stem and branches consistently pinnulated to the second order and very rarely to the third order on older sections of the corallum, in some specimens. Primary pinnules 1–2 cm in length, thin; < 0.1 mm in diameter at their midsection. Primary pinnules arranged bilaterally and alternating in two rows. Secondary pinnules 0.5–2 cm in length; arranged uniserially at intervals starting near the base of primary pinnules, projecting anteriorly. Rarely, one or two tertiary pinnules occurring on a very small number of secondary pinnules and usually on the most basal secondary pinnules on the older portions of the corallum. Spines conical, slightly compressed laterally; ≤ 0.06 mm tall on the pinnules; mostly smooth, but some polypar spines possessing small, rounded, low-relief, knob-like protuberances. Spines taller, ≥ 0.14 mm, and needle-like on the thicker branches and stem. Number of spine rows per view and the density of spines in each row do not differ substantially from that on the pinnules. Polyps up to 1.25 mm in transverse diameter, appearing elongated transversely, arranged in a single row, with mostly seven or eight polyps per centimeter. Tentacles cylindrical, subequal in size; and when fully extended not much longer than the transverse diameter of the polyps. Tip of expanded tentacles rounded. Oral cone raised.

Although the family at present contains only a single genus, a comparison with genera of other families suggests that the major generic morphological feature of Ameripathes is the pinnulate nature of the corallum, with two bilateral rows of primary pinnules and one to two orders of subpinnules. This same pinnulation pattern occurs in the genus Myriopathes in the family Myriopathidae and in the deep-sea genus Dendrobathypathes Opresko, 2002 in the family Schizopathidae. The occurrence of similar branching or pinnulation patterns across families is common among antipatharians.

Another feature that occurs in both Ameripathes and Myriopathes is an increase in the size of the spines on the branches and stem where they are more cylindrical and needle-like. However, in Ameripathes the spines on the stem do not increase in density (number of rows and number per row) and do not become forked or antler-shaped, which is often the case in the Myriopathes.

Ameripathes pseudomyriophylla sp. nov. is the only species assigned to the newly described genus.

In accordance with Article 11.3 of the International Code for Zoological Nomenclature the name of the genus Ameripathes can be considered an arbitrary combination of letters; however, it is loosely derived from “americana” in reference to the early association of this taxon with Antipathes americana Duchassaing and Michellotti, and the commonly used suffix -pathes.

The single species assigned to this genus is known only from the Western Central Atlantic, in the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico (Fig. 1).

Holotype : USNM 1689129, 7 km east of Desecheo Island, Puerto Rico, 18.387°N, 67.408°W, 165 m depth, seawater temperature 22 °C. Schmidt Ocean Institute R/V Falkor (too), FKt230417, Health diagnostic of deep-sea coral, ROV SuBastian dive 506, April 19, 2023 (SEM stub No. 586–590). Paratypes: USNM 1689101, 6 km east of Desecheo Island, Puerto Rico, 18.389°N, 67.417°W, 183 m depth, seawater temperature 21 °C. Schmidt Ocean Institute R/V Falkor (too), FKt230417, Health diagnostic of deep-sea coral, ROV SuBastian dive 504 April 18, 2023 (SEM stub No. 581–585); UMML 7.669 (schizoparatype USNM 1705331), Lesser Antilles, off Carriacou, 12.3917°N, 61.3600°W, 37–251 m depth. R/V Pillsbury sta. 857, July 3, 1969 (SEM stub No. 223); UMML 7.668 (schizoparatype USNM 1705332), Gulf of Mexico, 28.1167°N, 95.05°W, 55 m depth, R/V Silver Bay sta 190, Sept. 27, 1957; MCZ:IZ:57354, Lesser Antilles, off Grenada, 12.0583°N, 61.7861°W, 532 m depth, USCSS Blake sta. 260, Feb. 28, 1879 (SEM stub No. 207) (syntype of Antipathes picea Pourtalès).

7 km east of Desecheo Island, Mona Passage, Puerto Rico, 165 m depth

As for the genus.

The holotype (USNM 1689129) is a 19-cm section of branch (Fig. 5A) from a colony estimated to be ~ 0.75 m tall based on in situ imagery (Fig. 5B). The polyps are white in color, both in situ and in the preserved state. The collected sample is sparsely branched to the second order, and pinnulate to the second order. Pinnulate branches are 4–6 cm in length and occur irregularly, but bilaterally. The primary pinnules, arranged bilaterally and alternately along the branches (Fig. 5C), measure 1–2 cm in length with basal diameters ≤ 0.2 mm, tapering to ~ 0.05 mm midsection and 0.02 mm near the distal end, are spaced 2.0–2.5 mm apart in each row (8 or 9 per centimeter, total for both rows), and incline distally at ~ 75⁰. The interior angle between the two rows of primaries is ~ 150⁰. The pinnules also tend to curve posteriorly, towards the abpolypar side of the corallum. The secondary pinnules are arranged uniserially on the polypar side of the primary pinnules; the most proximal secondary is placed ~ 2 mm from the base of the primary pinnule, and secondary pinnules are spaced between 2–5 mm apart in a row with a maximum of three secondary pinnules occurring on one primary pinnule (Fig. 5D). The secondary pinnules are mostly 0.5–2.0 cm long and extending out from the polypar side of the corallum and form 60° distal angles. The longest secondaries can be longer than the primary pinnule from which they arise.

Spines (Fig. 6) on the pinnules are conical, slightly compressed laterally (especially those nearer the tips of the pinnules), with a rounded apex, and smooth or with one to three small, rounded, low-relief, knob-like protuberances 0.003–0.006 mm tall on polypar spines visible in lateral view (Fig. 6A, B). On pinnules ranging between 0.03 and 0.1 mm in diameter, polypar spines are 0.05 to 0.06 mm in height (Fig. 6B), and abpolypar spines range from 0.04 to 0.05 mm (Fig. 6C). The abpolypar spines are more distally directed than polypar spines. The developing spines nearer to the tip of the pinnules, where the axial diameter is 0.02–0.04 mm, have a very elongated and sloping proximal edge, ≤ 0.1 mm long, and a very short distal edge of ~ 0.03 mm or less, which extends out at near right angles to the surface of the pinnule (Fig. 6D). The distance from the tip of the spines to the middle of the base; however, is 0.05–0.06 mm. Three to four rows of spines can be counted in one view. The spines in each row are offset such that they also appear to follow a spiral pattern around the axis (with one spine from each row). Spaces between spines in a row range from 0.18 mm (abpolypar spines) to 0.22 mm (polypar spines), and 6 spines can be counted in 1 mm in each row. Spines on branches become taller and more cylindrical and needle-like; on a branch 1.3 mm in diameter, they are ≤ 0.12 mm tall. The rows become much less regular; however, the number of rows per view, and the density of spines in each row do not differ substantially from that on the pinnules.

Polyps occur in a single row. On the primary pinnules they are confined on or near the side on which the subpinnules occur. The polyps are 1.0–1.25 mm in the transverse diameter (Fig. 5E). They appear elongated due to the small axial diameter of the pinnules. The interpolypar distance (between lateral tentacles of adjacent polyps) is 0.4–0.6 mm, and there are usually seven or eight polyps per centimeter. The tentacles (in preserved state) are subequal in size, 0.4–0.5 mm long, with the sagittals placed lower than the laterals. The oral cone is raised ~ 0.25 mm (Fig. 5E).

The colony from which the holotype was collected was imaged in situ (Fig. 5B) and based on a 4K video (https://tinyurl.com/SupplMat2), the complete colony was estimated to be approximately 1 m tall and 0.75 m wide. The main stem is ~ 1 m tall and the colony is branched to the seventh order or more and forms a distinct fan shape. Branches are ≥ 20 cm in length, have 75–90⁰ distal angles, and are straight or curved distally near the base of the lower order branch from which they arise, and are slightly curved proximally towards the tip. Branches occur on both sides of lower-order branches.

Specimen USNM 11689101 is a 12-cm section of branch from a colony estimated to be ~ 0.3 m tall based on in situ imagery (Fig. 7A). The polyps are white in color in situ and in the preserved state. The collected sample has two orders of branches and pinnulate to the second order. The primary pinnules, arranged bilaterally and alternately along the stem and branches (Fig. 7B), measure 1.0–1.5 cm in length with basal diameters ≤ 0.1 mm, tapering to ~ 0.05 mm midsection and 0.03 mm near the distal end, are spaced 2.0 mm apart in each row (9 or 10 per centimeter, total for both rows), and incline distally at ~ 65⁰. The interior angle between the two rows of primaries is ~ 130⁰. The pinnules also tend to curve posteriorly, towards the abpolypar side of the corallum. The secondary pinnules are arranged uniserially on the polypar side of the primary pinnules; the most proximal secondary is placed ~ 2 mm from the base of the primary pinnule and rarely < 1 mm from the base of the primary pinnule. Secondary pinnules are spaced between 2–5 mm apart in a row with a maximum of two secondary pinnules occurring on one primary pinnule (Fig. 7B). The secondary pinnules are mostly 0.5–1.5 cm long and extending out from the polypar side of the corallum and form 60⁰ distal angles. The longest secondaries can be longer than the primary pinnule from which they arise.

Spines on the pinnules are conical, slightly compressed laterally (especially those nearer the tips of the pinnules), with a rounded apex, and smooth or with one to two small, rounded, low-relief, knob-like protuberances 0.003–0.006 mm tall on polypar spines visible in lateral view (Fig. 7C). On pinnules ranging between 0.03 and 0.08 mm in diameter, polypar spines are 0.04–0.07 mm in height, and abpolypar spines range from 0.04 to 0.05 mm. The abpolypar spines are more distally directed than polypar spines. Three rows of spines can be counted in one view. The spines in each row are offset such that they also appear to follow a spiral pattern around the axis (with one spine from each row). Spaces between spines in a row range from 0.2 to 0.23 mm among abpolypar spines and to 0.25–0.3 among polypar spines, and five or six spines can be counted in 1 mm in each row. Spines on branches become taller and more cylindrical and needle-like and less regularly arranged, and sometimes absent on large areas of the axial surface (Fig. 7D). On a branch 0.8 mm in diameter, the spines are ≤ 0.13 mm tall, in four irregular rows and with mostly five or six spines per millimeter in each row (Fig. 7D).

Polyps occur in a single row. On the primary pinnules they are confined on or near the side on which the subpinnules occur. The polyps are 1.0–1.25 mm in the transverse diameter (Fig. 7D). They appear elongated due to the small axial diameter of the pinnules. The interpolypar distance (between lateral tentacles of adjacent polyps) is 0.1–0.2 mm and there are usually eight or nine polyps per centimeter. The tentacles (in preserved state) are subequal in size with the sagittals placed lower than the laterals. The oral cone is raised ~ 0.25 mm.

The specimen from R/V Pillsbury sta. 857 (UMML 7.669, Fig. 8A) is mostly flattened in one plane, but with some overlapping branches. It has a height of 28 cm, a width of 22 cm, and a basal stem diameter of ~ 2 mm. It is sparsely branched to the third order, and pinnulate to the second and occasionally third order. The major branches are 5–10 cm in length and spaced 2.5–3 cm apart, and extend out laterally to vertically. As in the holotype, the primary pinnules are arranged bilaterally and alternately along the stem and branches (Fig. 8B, C). They are 1.5–2.0 cm long, mostly around 0.06 mm thick (up to 0.1 mm near the base), 2.5–3.0 mm apart (eight or nine per centimeter, total for both rows), and most are inclined distally, usually forming an angle of ~ 60⁰ with the branch from which they arise. The interior angle between the two rows of primaries is close to 180⁰. The pinnules also tend to curve posteriorly, towards the abpolypar side of the corallum. The secondary pinnules are arranged uniserially on the polypar side of the primary pinnules (Fig. 8C); the lowermost secondary is placed ~ 0.5 mm from the base of the primary, the second is 1.2–2.6 mm from the lowermost one, and the third secondary is 1.7–2.8 mm from the second. There can be as many as four secondary pinnules on the longest primaries. The secondary pinnules are 0.5–2.0 cm long and are inclined distally such that they form a distal angle of ~ 60⁰ with the primary pinnule. The longest secondaries are usually those nearest the base of the primary, and they are sometimes as long, or longer than the primary pinnule from which they arise. One or two tertiary pinnules are rarely present on the polypar side of the lowermost secondary pinnules and sometimes on one of the more distal secondaries (Fig. 8D).

Spines (Fig. 9) on the pinnules are conical, slightly compressed laterally (especially those nearer the tips of the pinnules), with a rounded apex, and smooth or with a few small, rounded, low-relief, knob-like protuberances. The spines on one side are more distally directed than those on the opposite side. On the distal portion of a pinnule, where the axial diameter ranges from ~ 0.03 to 0.06 mm, the polypar spines are mostly 0.05–0.06 mm tall, and the abpolypar spines ~ 0.04 mm (Fig. 9A, B). On a pinnule with an axial diameter of 0.08–0.1 mm, the spines are ~ 0.06 mm (Fig. 9C–F). Spines on branches and stem become taller and more cylindrical and needle-like; on a branch 0.3 mm in diameter, they are ≤ 0.11 mm tall, spaced 0.2–0.3 mm apart (~ 5 per millimeter) and arranged in five rows as seen from one aspect (Fig. 9E).

Polyps occur in a single row. On the primary pinnules they are confined on or near the side on which the subpinnules occur. The polyps are 0.6 mm in transverse diameter near the tips of the pinnules, increasing to ~ 1.1 mm near the base. They appear elongated due to the small axial diameter of the pinnules. The interpolypar distance (between lateral tentacles of adjacent polyps) is 0.1–0.2 mm, and there are usually eight or nine polyps per centimeter, rarely as many as ten per centimeter. The tentacles (in preserved state) are subequal in size, ~ 0.4 mm long, with the sagittals placed lower than the laterals. The oral cone is ~ 0.25 mm high.

The MCZ specimen from Blake Sta. 260 is a 6.5-cm long branch or the stem of a small colony (with the basal plate missing). The primary pinnules are 1–2 cm long, ~ 0.17 mm in diameter at their base, and spaced ~ 3.0 mm apart in each row. Primary pinnules longer than ~ 2 cm develop into pinnulated branches with the primary pinnules 3 mm apart in each lateral row. The interior angle formed by the two rows of primary pinnules is 160–175⁰, but the pinnules are curved backwards so that they appear in the plane of the stem/branch. The distal angle of the pinnules is ~ 75⁰. There are ≤ 4 secondary pinnules on each primary; the first is 0.05 mm from the base of the primary, the second 1.5–1.8 mm from the first, the third 2.0–2.5 mm from the second; and the fourth 3 mm from the third. The secondary pinnules are 0.2–0.7 cm long. They extend outward on the convex side of the primaries and are also angled distally ~ 60⁰ to the primary. Tertiary pinnules are present on a few of the basal-most secondaries and are in the same plane as the secondary or extend upward to be parallel to the branch. The spines are 0.06 mm tall on the pinnules and 2–3× taller on the lower part of the stem/branch (≤ 0.17 mm). They are less regularly arranged near the base of the stem and extend out in various directions. In places, they are completely absent. Polyps are not present.

The specimen from Silver Bay sta. 190 (UMML 7.668) is 15 cm high and 8 cm wide, with a stem ~ 2.5 mm in diameter near its basal end. In this colony, the secondary pinnules are 0.5–1.5 cm long, and tertiary pinnules occur on not only the most basal secondary pinnule but also on the more distal ones. The tertiary pinnules also tend to project upward, parallel to the branch. On the lower part of the stem, the skeletal material of the axis has overgrown the basal portion of the lowermost secondary pinnules. Consequently, the stem appears to have four rows of primary pinnules. This appearance is enhanced by the fact that the secondary pinnules can be longer than the primary pinnules.

The five specimens in the type series are fairly consistent in morphological features. They all form a branched pinnulate corallum with at least two orders of pinnules. The colonies tend to be planar. The occurrence and number of secondary and tertiary pinnules is, however, variable, both within a colony and between colonies, explainable perhaps by the size and age of the colony or the section of the colony sampled. The primary pinnules are always arranged bilaterally and alternately in two rows. The distance between primary pinnules in each row ranges from 2 to 3 mm; the total density for both rows is fairly consistent at eight or nine per centimeter. On the largest specimens, the maximum length of the primary pinnules is 2 cm or slightly longer. Pinnules longer than 2 cm usually develop into pinnulated branches. The pinnules are always very thin, the axial diameter is usually < 0.2 mm near their insertion on a branch and only 0.05–0.06 mm at their midpoint. The number of secondary pinnules per primary pinnule is usually one or two; however, rarely, there are as many as four per primary. Secondary pinnules are variable in length within and between colonies and can be as long as the primary pinnules. Tertiary pinnules are very rare and appear to occur mainly on older sections of the corallum. The fact that tertiary pinnules could not be found on the holotype is most likely due to its being a section taken from the upper, younger part of the colony. When present, tertiary pinnules are very short and are mostly confined to the lowermost secondary pinnules; however, they occasionally can also be found on a more distal secondary pinnule. There are usually only one, and rarely two tertiary pinnules on a secondary. On the pinnules, the maximum size of the polypar spines is consistently 0.06 mm from colony to colony. The spines always increase in size and become more cylindrical and needle-like on the larger branches, and depending on the axial diameter, can be as tall as 0.17 mm. The number of rows of spines varies slightly from colony to colony ranging between three or four to four or five visible in one aspect.

The number of rows, however, does not increase on the larger branches, and the density of the spines is mostly five or six per mm, even on the thickest branches. The maximum size of the polyps varies only slightly between colonies in that the transverse diameter ranges from ~ 1–1.25 mm, and the density is typically 7–9 per cm. The interpolypar distance ranges from 0.1 to 0.6 mm.

A total of 60–986 conserved element loci were obtained per specimen. Total number of contigs ranged from 16,819 to 1,444,028 base pairs (bp) (average lengths (bp) ranged from 280 to 1,695). The 50% taxon occupancy matrix included 741 loci that were concatenated into an alignment with a total length of 391,648 bp. Read and locus summary statistics are detailed in Suppl. material 1. The maximum likelihood phylogeny includes all eight black coral families with the new family representing a distinct lineage sister to the Antipathidae + Aphanipathidae + Myriopathidae + Stylopathidae (Fig. 4).

The species name is derived from pseudo (false) and myriophylla, in reference to the very similar appearance to species in the genus Myriopathes with M. myriophylla being the type species of the genus.

The species is only known only from the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico between 54 and 532 m depth.

Figure 5. 

Ameripathes pseudomyriophylla , holotype (USNM 1689129) A section of the collected specimen B colony from which the holotype specimen was collected C section of pinnulated branch showing two rows of alternating primary pinnules and uniserial secondary pinnules D dorsal view of pinnulation pattern (second-order uniserial pinnules indicated by the arrows) E section of pinnule showing preserved polyps with contracted tentacles.

Figure 6. 

Ameripathes pseudomyriophylla , holotype (USNM 1689129) A dorsal view of single spine showing a single knob B lateral view of a polypar spine showing two knobs C lateral view of an abpolypar spine D–G sections of pinnules of increasing thickness.

Figure 7. 

Ameripathes pseudomyriophylla , paratype (USNM 1689101) A colony from which the paratype was collected B section of the collected specimen C lateral view of a polypar spine showing two knobs D dorsal view of single spine showing two knobs E lateral view of a pinnulated branch showing the arrangement of the pinnules and subpinnules F lateral view of a branch showing the arrangement of the pinnules and subpinnules.

Figure 8. 

Ameripathes pseudomyriophylla , paratype (UMML 7.669) A entire corallum B section of a branch C closeup view showing the arrangement of the pinnules and subpinnules D dorsal view of pinnulation pattern (third order pinnules indicated by the arrows).

Figure 9. 

Ameripathes pseudomyriophylla , paratype (USNM 1705331, subsample of UMML 7.669) A–C sections of pinnules D branchlet E section of thick branch F close-up view of two spines showing knob-like protuberances.