A Rare Benthic Ctenophore, Lyrocteis cf. imperatoris, at Mesophotic Depths off Réunion Island

Closed-circuit rebreather diving has opened new opportunities for direct observation of the rich biodiversity of unexplored mesophotic coral ecosystems. We recently encountered four specimens of a rare benthic ctenophore genus, Lyrocteis. The specimens were found on the east coast of Réunion Island off the harbor of Sainte Rose at ~95 m. This finding contributes to the limited number of records of the genus in the Indian Ocean. Continued exploration of mesophotic zones remains essential, as each dive has the potential to reveal remarkable and unexpected discoveries.