Alcyonium haddoni Wright & Studer, 1889

Material examined: BBB 2016: St. 23; St. 27; St. 32; St. 40.

Distribution: Off Río de la Plata (36º06’S 53º18’W; 278–282 m) (Verseveldt 1967); Uruguay (35º24’S 52º30’W; 400 m) (Castro 1990); Chile (48º30’S 74º30’W; 320 m) (Wright & Studer 1889) 43°09’02.1” S, 73°35’30.9” W to 51°36’20.8” S, 73°55’33.8” W (6–30 m) (Ofwegen et al. 2007); Burdwood bank (Argentina) (90–422 m)

(present study).

Remarks: Not Alcyonium haddoni: Pérez & Zamponi 2004 . Ofwegen et al. (2007) question Verseveldt’s (1967) identification and restrict the species distribution to Chilean waters, although Castro (1990) agrees with Verseveldt and lists it off Uruguay. The current records represent the first occurrence for the Burdwood region (including both MPAs), filling gaps in the amphiamerican distribution of the species, within the southern region of the South American continent (35º24’S, 52º30’W to 43°09’02.1”S, 73°35’30.9”W). The specimens sampled at station 40 represent the deepest record for the species (422 m). Specimens were found inhabiting rubbles and biogenic substrata (gorgonians, primnoids and hydrocorals skeletons).