102 ALLAN HANCOCK PACIFIC EXPEDITIONS VOL. 14 



Floridina antiqua (Smitt), 1873 

 Plate 11, fig. 4 



Mollia antiqua Smitt, 1873:12. 

 Floridina antiqua, Canu and Bassler, 1928 :60. 

 Floridina antiqua, Hastings, 1930:715. 

 Floridina antiqua, Osburn, 1947 :17. 



Zoarium encrusting, usually on shells. Zooecia of moderate size, 

 rather broad, length 0.40 to 0.50 mm by 0.35 to 0.40 mm in width ; the 

 onychocellarium 0.35 to 0.40 mm in length; mandible about 0.25 mm 

 long; all of the measurements vary greatly. The granulated cryptocyst 

 rises slightly proximal to the aperture as if to form the roof of an incipi- 

 ent polypide tube ; it extends for half the length or more of the zooecium 

 and is continued broadly all around the aperture, forming on each side 

 of the latter a strong projection, partly cutting off the opesiules and 

 forming a somewhat trifoliate opesia. The operculum is situated in ad- 

 vance of the cryptocystal process ; it is rather thin with a bordering scler- 

 ite except on the proximal border where it is continuous with the frontal 

 membrane. The onychocellarium is moderately elongate, usually ovoid 

 at the proximal end and pointed distally ; there is much variation in their 

 distribution and frequently they may be absent over much of the zoarium ; 

 the mandible is dark brown and strongly hooked ; the two wings are very 

 fragile and symmetrical, forming an oval. 



Smitt identified the species with Membranipora antiqua Busk, but 

 pointed out the differences and gave an excellent figure. He recorded it 

 from Florida at 36 fms. Canu and Bassler listed it from the Gulf of 

 Mexico, the Straits of Florida and south of Miami, Florida, down to 

 56 fms. and Osburn found it at several stations in the southern Carib- 

 bean. On the Pacific coast it has been recorded only by Hastings, from 

 Gorgona, Colombia. 



Hancock Stations: It is a fairly common species, taken at 25 stations, 

 ranging from Cedros Island (N Lat. 28°) on the west coast of Lower 

 California and Angel de la Guardia Island (N Lat. 29°) in the Gulf of 

 California, to La Libertad and La Plata Island, Ecuador (1°15'S Lat.) 

 Intermediate localities are Isabel Island, Tenacatita Bay and Petatlan 

 Bay, Mexico; Socorro and Clarion Islands, west of Mexico; and Gor- 

 gona and Port Utria, Colombia. The bathymetric range extends from 

 the shore line to 55 fms. 



