Banc Capel is a guyot, or flat-topped underwater volcano, in the Coral Sea.
Banc Capel | |
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Location | |
Location | Coral Sea, in the South Pacific Ocean, near New Caledonia |
Coordinates | 24°45.70′S 159°42.13′E / 24.76167°S 159.70217°E) [1] |
Country | France |
Geology | |
Type | Guyot |
Volcanic arc/chain | Lord Howe Seamount Chain |
Banc Capel is a guyot – a former atoll with steep sides and a flat top – and is swept by strong currents. There are no sandy or muddy substrates, the surface being occupied by rocks or gravel scree.[2]
Banc Capel is inhabited by species including Nassarius alabasteroides and Laurentaeglyphea.[3][4][5][2][6] It is dominated by sponges, including the genus Phloedictyon and gorgonians. Other decapods found in the same trawls including the slipper lobster Ibacus brucei, the crab Randallia and swimming crabs.[2]