BIOLOGY OF SPIRULA 63 



material for a comparison between the benthic fauna of the slope and 

 that of the abyssal depths. The result was a large catch of about 300 

 fishes, comprising approximately 40 species, and many hundreds of 

 invertebrates, especially crustaceans. 



As would be expected from the procedure, which consisted of lower- 

 ing and hauling the trawl, wide open all the while, the animals were 

 a mixture of pelagic and benthic types. Full details can be given only when 

 all the species have been studied by specialists, but some preliminary iden- 

 tifications, which will give an impression of the animal communities con- 

 taining Spirula, will be sufficient for the present purpose. 



Among the pelagic fishes were noted: Argyropelecus, Sternoptyx, 

 Polyipnus, Gonostoma, Vinciguerria, Cyclothone, myctophids, Neoscope- 

 lus, Astronesthes, Stomias, Chauliodus, Nansenia, Stylephorus, Lepto- 

 cephali, and Bothus-lzrvae. Other genera represented bottom fishes or 

 species living near the bottom, such as: Etmopteriis, Coloconger, Ario- 

 soma, Physiculus, Haloporphyrus, Coryphaenoides, JMalacocephalus, Neo- 

 bythites, Selachophidium, and Setarches. Other typical benthic animals 

 were a number of crabs like Platymaia and Geryon, shrimps or prawns 

 like Sabinea and Nematocarcinus, and the small lobster Nephropsis. More 

 animals could be mentioned, but this should be sufficient to give a gen- 

 eral idea of the haul. 



Another haul, at Station 202 (25°20' S., 35°17'E.) had been made 

 earlier in the same afternoon (16.20 h.), but the depth was a little less: 

 525 to 570 meters. This catch consisted of more than 500 specimens of 

 fishes comprising at least 35 dififerent species. There were also many 

 invertebrates, but not a single Spirula. Although one should not attach 

 too much importance to the differences between two such hauls, it may 

 be of interest to note some genera of bottom fishes not found at Station 

 203: Gonorhynchus, Ateleopus, Synagrops, Chascanopsetta, Sympliurus, 

 Peristedion and Chaunax. Chlorophthalmus was here represented by 

 135 specimens, but by only one at Station 203. At Station 202 pelagic 

 types like Yarrella, Polyipnus and myctophids were also caught. Some 

 of the differences observed are probably caused by the difference in 

 depths, but final conclusions must await a more detailed study. 



The Galathea Expedition caught only one more Spirula. At Station 

 280 (1°56'N., 77°05'E., April 9, 1951) a live immature specimen, 

 ventral mantle length 20 mm, was found imbedded in soft ooze, which 

 was brought up from about 4500 meters in an open shrimp otter-trawl. 

 This specimen was kept alive overnight in a refrigerator, and the next 

 day a fine piece of color film was made of its characteristic movements. 



