SIPUNCULIDAE 255 



Near Shag Rocks: St. 160. 177 m. 



South Shetlands: St. 175. 200 m. 



St. 187. 259 m. 



Clarence Island: St. 170. 342 m. 



Previously this species was known from only one station in the Antarctic at Shag 

 Rocks Bank as recorded by Theel. In his record he put a question mark after the 

 identification but stated that he could not differentiate his animals from northern ones. 

 Fischer (1920, p. 417) quotes the record without the query, being satisfied that the 

 southern animals were the same as the northern ones. The present specimens agreed 

 with Theel's figures and description, and are regarded as belonging to the species. 



Although previously recorded from only one locality it has a much wider area of 

 distribution, since the Discovery specimens came from over a wide area from South 

 Georgia to the South Shetlands. At few points was it common, two or three specimens 

 at each station being the usual catch. 



The species usually lives in old shells of gastropods or Dentaliiim, but is often found 

 living free. In these Antarctic collections it was found living free and in shells in about 

 equal proportions, as the following table shows : 



St. 27. One large and one small specimen, both living in the same gastropod shell. 

 One large and one small specimen, living in the same gastropod shell. 



Two specimens, living free. 

 , Three specimens, living free. 

 . Eleven specimens, living free. 

 . Three specimens in gastropod shells. 

 , One specimen in gastropod shell. 

 , Three specimens in gastropod shells, two living free. 



One specimen, living free. 



One specimen, living free. 



(b) SPECIES TAKEN IN SOUTH AFRICAN WATERS 

 AND IN THE EASTERN ATLANTIC 



1 1 . Larval sipunculid. 



Occurrence. Off South-East Africa: St. 1569. 31" 50-3' S, 32° 20-5' E. 12. iv. 35. 1200-300 m. 

 T.Y.F.B. 



Only one specimen, about 5 mm. in diameter, was taken. There were numerous very 

 small indistinct papillae scattered over the skin, and there were thirty-six radiating 

 longitudinal muscle bands. On a dark field the animal, preserved in formol, had a 

 bluish appearance and the skin appeared iridescent. 



This form was originally considered to be a distinct, but pelagic aberrant, species of 

 sipunculid and was given the name of Pelagosphaera aloysii by Mingazzini (1905, 

 p. 713). More recent investigations by Dawydoff' (1930, p. 88) have shown that it is 

 an unidentified larva of some sipunculid. Dawydoff was fortunate in securing over 

 thirty live specimens and was able to follow the metamorphosis until the animals had 

 ceased to be pelagic and were developing an elongated body and an opaque skin. 



