66 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 2 27 



dorsum bare, without setae. Each notopodium with 5-6 branchiae, 

 with 2 of them between the inner and outer dorsal cirri; branchiae 

 branched dicotymously several times, the tips with clusters of conical 

 branchlets. Notosetae extending only slightly beyond the branchiae, 

 shorter than the neurosetae, of 2 kinds: (1) Smooth pointed spines 

 with much shorter lateral branch; (2) unequally bifurcated setae 

 with branches arched, divergent, with strongly marked serrations on 

 inner sides (fig. 14/). Neurosetae with curved hooked tips, with a 

 strong lateral spur; some with an additional slender subterminal 

 tooth. Colorless when preserved; brick red to pale yellowish in life. 



Biology. — Dredged on bottoms of fine sand, shelly sand, sandy 

 mud, sandy mud and corals, and mud and gravel. Some specimens 

 were filled with large yolky eggs (October 18, 1894, 70 fathoms, off 

 Chesapeake Bay), 



Material examined. — Massachusetts (Albatross III, 40°31' N., 

 67°19' W., 79 fathoms, 1955, E. Wigley), off Chesapeake Bay (Alba- 

 tross Station 2265, 37°07' N., 74°35' W., 70 fathoms, 1884; Station 

 2421, 37°07' N., 74°34' W., 64 fathoms, 1885). 



Distribution. — ^Iceland, Norway, Faroes to France, off Massa- 

 chusetts to off Chesapeake Bay. In 64 to 289 fathoms. 



Family Spintheridae 



A family represented by a single genus in which all known species 

 are clinging forms, associated with or parasitic on sponges, which they 

 tend to match in coloration. Body oval, convex dorsally, flattened 

 ventrally, solelike, with ventral surface papillated or smooth. Para- 

 podia biramous. Neuropodia cylindrical, each with 1 to several, 

 strong yellow, compound, strongly hooked neurosetae. Notopodia 

 forming elongated transverse ridges nearly covering the dorsum 

 except for a narrow middorsal area, with more or less developed 

 delicate lamellae supported by numerous spinelike notosetae in trans- 

 verse rows, giving the animal the appearance of an oval pincushion. 



Anterior parapodia du*ected anteriorly and fused medially, forming 

 thus a continuous disc. Posterior parapodia smaller, directed 

 posteriorly, radiating around the subterminal anus. Mouth ventral, 

 surrounded by first few setigers. Proboscis unarmed, eversible, 

 forming a voluminous rosettelike sac. Prostomium tiny, inconspicu- 

 ous, posterior to the anterior fused parapodia, with a globular median 

 antenna which nearly covers the prostomium, usually with 2 pairs of 

 eyes at the base of the antenna. Without branchiae, dorsal or ventral 

 cirri (in some species, the neuropodia have distal digitiform extensions 

 which have been referred to as ventral or parapodial cirri). 



Carnivorous or parasitic, living on sponges. Contains onh^ one 

 genus. 



