C-4 



Solenosmilia variabilis 

 This species is a pale-pink colonial coral that forms large 

 bushy colonies by intratentacular budding. The thecae of this 

 coral are small and the calices at the end of the branches are 

 divided. Previous to this study there was only one record of 

 S. variabilis from off the northeastern United States (Cairns 

 manuscript) . In the western Atlantic its depth range is from 

 220 to 1383 meters (Cairns, 1979). A large colony of this 

 species was recovered from the ski of the camera sled that had 

 been towed from the east flank of Lydonia Canyon down into the 

 axis. This colony was attached to several large individuals 

 of Desmophyllum cristagalli . 



Family Flabellidae 

 Flabellum alabastrum 

 This species is a salmon-colored solitary cup coral found on 

 soft substrates. It is distinct from the other cup corals in 

 that its corallum is constricted in the center. F. alabastrum 

 is common throughout the study area and is found at depths ranging 

 from 357 to 1977 meters (Cairns, manuscript). In the historical 

 survey solitary corals that resemble F. alabastrum were found 

 throughout the study area between the depths of 950 and 2300 

 meters. In the field study this species was only found in 

 Baltimore Canyon between 250 and 350 meters depth. The corals 

 seen during the field program were probably F. alabastrum. 



