B- 2 3 



the shallow water fauna. No specimens of this organism were 

 recovered during the sampling program, thus species identification 

 cannot be made at this time. In the historical survey this sea 

 pen was found from Veatch Canyon to Carteret Canyon at depths 

 ranging from 100 to 300 meters. In the field study this sea pen 

 was only found in Baltimore Canyon between 150 and 300 meters. 



Distiahoptilum gvaaile (Verrill) 



Distiahoptilum graaile^ Verrill, 1882:362 

 Distiohoptilum gvaaile^ Deichmann, 1936:265 



These sea pens develop into long, slender colonies (up to 

 50 cm high but only 2 mm in diameter) with the rachis 4 to 5 

 times the length of the stalk. The autozooids are placed along 

 the rachis in two lateral rows - the polyps on one side placed 

 alternate to those on the other. The lower 4 mm of each polyp 

 is formed into a rigid calyx into which the tentacles and antho- 

 codia can be retracted. Each calyx has a bilobed or forked upper 

 edge, lies appressed against the rachis, and overlaps the calyx 

 above it. The siphonozooids are small and few in number. There 

 is one on either side and one above each autozooid. The spicules 

 are smooth three-edged rods up to 0.6 mm long. The color of the 

 colonies in life is a bright red orange. The type was collected 

 off Nantucket in 700 fm. It has been reported from off Greenland, 

 and the species may also occur in the Pacific. 



In the historical survey sea pens resembling this species were 

 fovmd throughout the study area between the depths of 600 to 2500 m, 



