CHARACTERISTIC DEEP-SEA TYPES. CORALS. 



153 



The Fungidse are a very characteristic shallow- water form in 

 the Pacific, and it is interesting to note that from deep water 



Fig. 474. Axohelia mirabilis. .1. (Pourtalos.) 



Fig. 475. Theeopsammia soeialis. 

 IS-. (Pourtales.) 



the dredge has brought up three small, simple species, the first 



simple Fungia found in our seas. Of these 



we may mention Fungia symmetrica (Fig. 



476), found by the dredgings of the " Chal- 



.lenger ' to be one of the most common deep- 

 sea corals. It has a world-wide distribution ; 



it occurs in the West and South Atlantic, and 



in the North and South Pacific, and has a very 



extended bathymetrical range ; it has been 



dredged by the " Challenger " in 30 fathoms 



and in 2,900 fathoms, and in all inter- 

 mediate depths. The range of tem- 

 perature which it sustains varies from 

 1 to 20 C. It has been found by 

 the "Blake" ranging from 175 to 

 800 fathoms in the Gulf of Mexico, 

 the Straits of Florida, and the Carib- 



Fig. 470. Fungia 

 symmetrica. |. 

 (Pourtales. ) 



Fig. 477. Diaseris crispa. 

 (Pourtales. ) 



