FOREWORD 



This NMFS Circular is part of the subsenes "Manne Flora and Fauna of the Northeastern United 

 Stales." which consists of original, illustrated, modern manuals on the identification, classification, and 

 general biology of the estuanne and coastal manne plants and animals of the northeastern United Slates. 

 The manuals are published at irregular intervals on as many taxaof the region as there are specialists avail- 

 able to collaborate in their preparation 



Geographic coverage of the "Manne Flora and Fauna of the Northeastern United States" is planned to 

 include organisms from the headwaters of estuanes seaward to approximately the 200 m depth on the con- 

 tinental shelf from Maine to Virginia, but may vary somewhat with each major taxon and the interests of 

 collaborators. Whenever possible representative specimens dealt with in the manuals are deposited in the 

 reference collections of major museums of the region. 



The "Manne Flora and Fauna of the Northeastern United States" is being prepared in collaboration 

 with systematic specialists in the United States and abroad. Each manual is based pnmanly on recent and 

 ongoing revisionary systematic research and a fresh examinatin of the plants and animals. Each major 

 ta.xon. treated in a separate manual, includes an introduction, illustrated glossary, uniform originally illus- 

 trated keys, annotated checklist with information when available on distribution, habitat, life history, and 

 related biology, references to the major literature of the group, and a systematic index. 



These manuals are intended for use by biology students, biologists, biological oceanographers. 

 informed laymen, and others wishing to identify coastal organisms for this region. Often they can serve as 

 guides to additional information about species or groups. 



The manuals are an outgrowth of the widely used "Keys to Manne Invertebrates of the Woods Hole 

 Region." edited by R. I. Smith in 1964. and produced under the auspices of the Systematics Ecology Pro- 

 gram. Marine Biological Laboratory. Woods Hole. Mass. After a sufficient number of manuals of related 

 taxonomic groups have been published, the manuals will be revised, grouped, and issued as special vol- 

 umes, which will consist of compilations tor phyla or groups of phyla. 



