Diversity of the Mediterranean Anthozoa (Cnidaria)

The classis Anthozoa within the phylum Cnidaria is divided into three subclasses, namely Hexacorallia, Octocorallia and Ceriantharia. Anthozoans inhabit different depths (0-2500 m) and habitats (algae, phanerogams, mud-sand, rock, caves) in the Mediterranean Sea. In this thesis, the actual status of anthozoan species distributed in the Mediterranean and its basins (including Turkey) has been compiled. In the Mediterranean Sea, a total 194 anthozoan species have been recorded up to date. Among the species, 126 species belong to the subclass Hexacorallia, 60 species belong to the subclass Octocorallia, and 8 species belong to the subclass Ceriantharia. Till now, 89 species have been reported from the coasts of Turkey and 6 species are distributed in the Black Sea, 74 species in the Sea of Marmara, 55 species in the Aegean Sea and 35 species in the Levantine Sea. In the Mediterranean Sea, 7 alien (Melithaea erythraea, Sagartiogeton laceratus, Diadumene cincta, D. lineata, Oculina patagonica and Pachycerianthus multiplicatus and Oulastrae crispata) and 45 endemic species have been reported up to date. Among the known species from the Mediterranean 17 anthozoon species are under the threatened category in the IUCN regional Red List; and 13 anthozoan species under the protection within the framework of the Barcelona and Bern Conventions.