On the occurrence of <i>Astrospartus mediterraneus</i> (Echinodermata, Gorgonocephalidae) in the Northwestern Iberian Peninsula

The first record of a living specimen of Astrospartus mediterraneus (Risso, 1826) in Galician waters is presented, representing a significant extension of the known northern limit for this charismatic, yet little-known, species of ophiuroid. Traditionally restricted to the western Mediterranean Sea and adjacent Atlantic, A. mediterraneus is characterized by its cryptic habits and association with deep benthic communities dominated by gorgonians and sponges. The specimen observed in Galicia was found in a shallow subtidal habitat, at the edge of the mesophotic zone considered compatible with its ecological requirements. This finding raises new hypotheses regarding population connectivity between the Mediterranean Basin and Atlantic regions, as well as the role of ocean currents and climate change in the redistribution of benthic species. The biogeographic implications of this record are discussed, and the need to intensify monitoring efforts for deep-sea species in the Iberian Atlantic is proposed.