A-35 



occurring in the canyons. In the northern canyons it was 

 found at depths ranging from 700 to 1500 meters, whereas in 

 the southern canyons it was found from 1500 to 2200 meters 

 (Figure D3). A. grandiflorus was frequently seen in areas 

 where a species of Pennatula was also common. 



Anthomastus agassizii is a bright-red mushroom- shaped 

 alcyonacean restricted to hard substrates. It was found 

 from Corsair Canyon to Hudson Canyon at depths ranging from 

 750 to 1800 meters. A. agassizii was not seen in Norfolk 

 Canyon even though adequate substrates and depth ranges 

 were covered. A similar coral, Tvaohy thela rudis , was seen 

 in Oceanographer and Heezen Canyons. Its growth form and 

 habit is very similar to A. agassizii but its coloration is 

 brilliant purple as opposed to red, and it is slightly 

 smaller than A. agassizii . 



Paramuriaea borealis is a large yellow irregularly 

 branching gorgonian restricted to hard substrates. It was 

 found from Corsair Canyon to as far south as DWD-106 at 

 depths ranging from 700 to 2200 meters. Again, as with A. 

 agassizii , it was not found in Norfolk Canyon despite cover- 

 age of suitable substrates and depth range. This species is 

 known to occur in a variety of colors ranging from white to 

 yellow to pink and to purple. Some colonies seen on the 

 Reykjanes Ridge, in fact, had two colors occurring within 

 the same colony (unpublished photographs) . Frequently five 

 to six individuals of the ophiuroid Asteronyx loveni were 

 seen coiled in the branches of a P. borealis colony. 



