This work reports on a preliminary taxonomic study of epibenthic macroinvertebrates collected or observed by underwater video at the Haima cold seeps and in adjacent deep-sea habitats, including a mud volcano field and Ganquan Plateau, during an expedition in the South China Sea by the Chinese-manned submersible Shenhai Yongshi in May 2018. A total of 41 species belonging to 6 phyla were identified, among which 34 species were collected from the Haima cold seeps. Mollusks and crustaceans that are specialized in reducing habitats were predominant in biotopes of the Haima cold seeps, whereas sponges and cold-water corals and their commensals were prominent in communities of the mud volcano field and the slopes of Ganquan Plateau. The distribution and faunal composition of each taxonomic group are discussed.
Keywords: Cold seep; Epibenthic macroinvertebrates; Faunal composition; Ganquan plateau; Mud volcano; South China Sea.
© The Author(s) 2020.