Active exploration of sea depths became possible in recent years because of increased technical capabilities. It has already led to a number of scientific and economically significant discoveries. In this paper, we have described a first record of deep-sea phoronids found in the Sea of Okhotsk at depths from 786 to 1551 m. The Phoronida is a phylum of invertebrates which includes 15 species of benthic worm-like animals. Most of phoronids have worldwide distribution and are known from different seas of the ocean. In some areas phoronids are extremely abundant and define the composition of benthic communities. Phoronids are mostly shallow water inhabitants: up to date their deepest location of finding was 390 m depth. This report uses light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and 3D reconstructions to describe a first deep-sea phoronid species, Phoronopsis deprofundis sp.nov. This species shares some common traits of morphology and reproductive biology with other species of Phoronopsis genera: feather-like longitudinal muscles and the presence of epidermal collar at the base of the lophophore. P. deprofundis exhibits some features which are mostly common with Phoronopsis albomaculata and Phoronopsis harmeri, however, it has unique combination of morphological features and should be considered as new phoronid species. Based on histological data it was proposed that the reproduction period of deep-sea phoronids occurs at the end of May – beginning of June. The cladistic analysis was carried out on morphological traits for phoronid adults and larvae, the characteristics of development and reproductive biology and the type of preferred substrate. However many white spots in morphological data still exist, especially in larval morphology. The taxonomy of phylum Phoronida should be reinvestigated and new taxa at order or family level should be established. Based on our new data and analysis of the literature, we can conclude that phoronidization of oceanic communities is taking place – phoronids are actively expanding their habitat and also occupy new water area, in which they were not registered before.
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