45 



Elasmogorgia Wright and Studer (Emended). 



> Filigella Gray. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Series 4, Vol. II, 1868, p. 443. 

 Elasmogorgia Wright and Studer. Challenger Reports, the Alcyonaria, 1889, p. 132. 



It must remain a question whether this genus is synonymous with Filigella or not. 

 Gray's description very closely coincides with the one given for Elasmogorgia by Wright and 

 Studer. Gray thought that his Filigella led a free life, there being 110 indication of attachment. 

 Although the present writer thinks it extremely likely that Gray had in hand a specimen that 

 would probably go into the genus Elasmogorgia, he feels that he can not prove this view and 

 therefore retains the latter name, and would characterize the genus as follows : — ■ 



Colony simple, or sparingly branched ; branches very slender, flexible ; calyces very low 

 and comparatively distant verrucae. Spicules all medium sized spindles, not attaining the dimensions 

 of those in Muricella or Acis. 



The type species of this genus is Elasmogorgia Jiliformis W. and S. The only other 

 known species is E. fiexilis Hickson, from the Maldive Archipelago. 



1 . Elasmogorgia filiformis Wright and Studer. 



Elasmogorgia jiliformis Wright and Studer. Challenger Reports, the Alcyonaria, 1889, p. 133. 

 Elasmogorgia filiformis Nutting. Alcyonaria of the Californian Coast. Proceedings of the 

 U. S. National Museum, Vol. XXXV, 1909, p. 717. 



Stat. 289. 9°o'.3 S., I26°24'.5E. Timor Sea. 112 meters. Mud, sand and shells. 



Colony (incomplete) consisting of a long straight, or gently curved, unbranched stem 

 6.3 cm. in length and with a diameter of 1.5 mm. The calyces are on all sides of the stem, 

 but are more numerous on two opposite sides. The distal end of the colony being absent, it 

 can not be determined whether there are terminal calyces or not. 



The individual calyces are very low rounded verrucae inclined somewhat toward the distal 

 end of the stem. They are more distant than usual in this family, and are unequally distributed, 

 being about 3 mm. apart, on the average. Their height is less than .5 mm. Their walls are 

 filled with rather short, stout spindles which are disposed so as to encircle the basal portion ; 

 but the upper part of the calyx is armed with spindles which tend to be vertical, but are 

 often oblique. In some cases their disposition is practically that given in the figures accompanying 

 the original discription of this species. The polyps are retractile, and are entirely concealed by 

 the calyx walls in complete retraction. The operculum is composed of two curved spicules that 

 meet in a point distally and have their proximal ends divaricated, while between their bases 

 is a much smaller spindle, the eight segments of the operculum corresponding to the eight 

 tentacles, and forming a rosette-shaped figure when viewed from above. There is a delicate 

 but well-marked collaret. 



Spicules. These are all spindles which are usually short and thick, often oblong-oval 

 in outline ; or oblong, squarish forms with their angles rounded. Those on the stem are the 

 largest, often attaining 1 mm. in length. The smallest ones are on the upper parts of the calyx walls. 



