NOAA’s National Database for Deep-Sea Corals and Sponges: Data Set Dashboard (Cruise)

NOAA Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program (DSCRTP)

Report last ran on 2026-04-16

Go back to data set index page: LINK

Please send feedback if you notice any problems with this data set.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Okeanos Explorer, Gulf of Mexico, 2018

  • Dataset ID: NOAA_EX-18-03
  • Database Version: 20260416-1
  • Data Provider: NOAA, Office of Ocean Exploration and Research
  • Data Contact: Bassett,Rachel;

Locator Map

Geographic Range

  • Ocean: North Atlantic
  • Fishery Management Council Region(s): Gulf (formerly Gulf of Mexico), South Atlantic
  • Large Marine Ecosystem(s): Gulf of Mexico
  • Marine Ecoregion(s): Northern Gulf of Mexico, Floridian, Southern Gulf of Mexico, Greater Antilles

Bounding box

Coordinates are in WGS 84: EPSG:4326

  • Minimum Latitude: 24.28
  • Maximum Latitude: 28.82539
  • Minimum Longitude: -94.8675
  • Maximum Longitude: -82.25163

Overview

Note: The numbers below only reflect published records. Additional records may be retained by the Program for further review.

  • Number of records: 1,837
  • Number of coral records: 1,370
  • Number of sponge records: 467
  • Records with images: 1837
  • Record type(s): video observation
  • Minimum depth (meters): 308
  • Maximum depth (meters): 3,000
  • Number of records flagged as <50 meters depth: 0
  • Time frame: 2018 to 2018

Data Set Description: This is a subset of the Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program’s National Database. The data represent observations of deep-sea corals and sponges observed during deepwater ROV surveys in the Gulf of Mexico by NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer. This research and exploration cruise was conducted on 2018-04-16 to 2018-05-02. Changes to the original dataset may have been made to conform to the National Database Schema and for quality control purposes. Further information can be found at: https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex1803/welcome.html.

Collection methodogy details:

See link for methods.
Link: https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex1803/welcome.html

Data Set Level Citation

NOAA, Office of Ocean Exploration and Research. Observation date range: 2018 to 2018. Coral or sponge occurrence observations submitted to the NOAA National Database for Deep Sea Corals and Sponges (www.deepseacoraldata.noaa.gov). Principal investigator: Wagner, Daniel | Skarke, Adam. DSCRTP Dataset ID: NOAA_EX-18-03. Database version: 20260416-1.

Note: Individual records within a data set may have additional citations in the ‘Citation’ field.

Expedition Details

SurveyID Vessel VehicleName SamplingEquipment RecordType
EX1803 Okeanos Explorer R/V Deep Discoverer ROV ROV video observation

Taxonomic Summary

Percent of coral, sponge, and fish records by lowest taxonomic rank.

Corals

Number of coral records: 1,370

Taxon rank Percent of all
coral records
class 2 %
order 4 %
family 33 %
genus 39 %
species 21 %
NA 1 %

Sponges

Number of sponge records: 467

Taxon rank Percent of all
sponge records
phylum 37 %
class 54 %
family 3 %
genus 6 %
species 0 %

Fishes

Number of fish records: 0

## No fish records in this data set.

Coral Taxa Observed

Note: Nothing will appear here if no coral taxa were observed.

ScientificName AphiaID Order Family Records
Acanella 125303 Scleralcyonacea Keratoisididae 2
Acanthogorgia 125293 Malacalcyonacea Acanthogorgiidae 46
Anthomastus 125285 Scleralcyonacea Coralliidae 43
Anthoptilum 128489 Scleralcyonacea Anthoptilidae 4
Antipatharia 22549 Antipatharia NA 12
Aquaumbridae 701654 Malacalcyonacea Aquaumbridae 24
Bathypathes 103304 Antipatharia Schizopathidae 80
Bathypathes pseudoalternata 1578714 Antipatharia Schizopathidae 3
Candidella 125318 Scleralcyonacea Primnoidae 102
Chelidonisis 125304 Scleralcyonacea Chelidonisididae 2
Chrysogorgiidae 125273 Scleralcyonacea Chrysogorgiidae 69
Clavulariidae 125270 Malacalcyonacea Clavulariidae 3
Coralliidae 125280 Scleralcyonacea Coralliidae 17
Desmophyllum pertusum 1245747 Scleractinia Caryophylliidae 278
Heteropathes 723286 Antipatharia Cladopathidae 10
Iridogorgia 125295 Scleralcyonacea Chrysogorgiidae 29
Keratoisididae 1544106 Scleralcyonacea Keratoisididae 256
Kophobelemnon 128492 Scleralcyonacea Kophobelemnidae 2
Leiopathes 103305 Antipatharia Leiopathidae 18
Madrepora 135123 Scleractinia Madreporidae 2
Malacalcyonacea 1609357 Malacalcyonacea NA 6
Metallogorgia 125296 Scleralcyonacea Chrysogorgiidae 2
Muriceides 125310 Malacalcyonacea Acanthogorgiidae 14
Narella 125319 Scleralcyonacea Primnoidae 2
Octocorallia 1341 NA NA 32
Paramuricea 125311 Malacalcyonacea Acanthogorgiidae 76
Pennatuloidea 1609360 Scleralcyonacea NA 14
Plexauridae 125277 Malacalcyonacea Plexauridae 12
Plumarella 177839 Scleralcyonacea Primnoidae 39
Primnoidae 125278 Scleralcyonacea Primnoidae 10
Protoptilum 128498 Scleralcyonacea Protoptilidae 1
Scleractinia 1363 Scleractinia NA 40
Stauropathes 267854 Antipatharia Schizopathidae 6
Stichopathes 103308 Antipatharia Antipathidae 29
Stylasteridae 22805 Anthoathecata Stylasteridae 57
Swiftia 125314 Malacalcyonacea Plexauridae 7
Telopathes 740050 Antipatharia Schizopathidae 8
Umbellula 1757986 Scleralcyonacea Umbellulidae 11
Victorgorgiidae 1045592 Malacalcyonacea Victorgorgiidae 2

Sponge Taxa Observed

Note: Nothing will appear here if no sponge taxa were observed.

ScientificName AphiaID Order Family Records
Aphrocallistes beatrix 134380 Sceptrulophora Aphrocallistidae 2
Chondrocladia 131894 Poecilosclerida Cladorhizidae 1
Demospongiae 164811 NA NA 98
Euplectella 132114 Lyssacinosida Euplectellidae 9
Euplectellidae 131692 Lyssacinosida Euplectellidae 11
Hexactinellida 22612 NA NA 152
Hyalonema 132096 Amphidiscosida Hyalonematidae 5
Phakellia 131779 Bubarida Bubaridae 11
Polymastia 132046 Polymastiida Polymastiidae 3
Porifera 558 NA NA 174
Tretodictyidae 131690 Sceptrulophora Tretodictyidae 1

Fish Taxa Observed

Note: Nothing will appear here if no fish taxa were observed.

## No fish records in this data set.

Please send feedback if you notice any problems with this data set.

Go back to data set index page: LINK