
MARINE AQUARIA 

The most common and generally distributed Middle Atlantic coast 
forms are: 
Metridium marginatum, (Les.), having a smooth, cylindrical, light- 
brownish column with deeply folded and fringed margin, and numerous 
short, fringelike tentacles, of which the central are the longest. The 
color is variable, the disc usually a light flesh-color and the tentacles grey- 
ish with brighter colored tips. When expanded it is sometimes ten inches 
across the disc, and when contracted appears as a broad flat cone. ‘This 
is the most conspicuous and abundant form, found from low-water marks 
to go fathoms, on piles, bridges, submerged woodwork, etc., and in rock 
crevices and under stones, from Cape Hatteras northward. 
Eloactis producta, (Stimp.), has rows of suckers the entire length of 
the column. It can expand to a length of 12 inches, but is usually 
shorter and thicker. There are twenty tentacles about the margin of the 
thick disc. The colors are variable but usually in dusky tones with 
brighter shades and mottlings. Found from Cape Cod to the Carolinas, 
on sandy beaches and under rocks at low-water marks; or buried under 
the sand with the mouth and tentacles only above the surface. One other 
form, [/yanthus levis, (Stimp.), is found south of the Carolinas to Flor- 
ida. These are nearly related to the numerous genus Halocampa of 
Europe, of which there are two American species, both north of Cape Cod. 
Aulactinia capitata, (Ver.), has a 6-inch long dark-grey or bluish col- 
umn, 1 3¢ inches in greatest diameter when extended, and 96 tentacles in 
four rows about a rose-colored disc. Found at low-water marks from Cape 
Cod to Florida. There are other deep-water species of this genus. 
Cerianthus americanus, (Ver.), avery long and slender form, has an 
18 to 20 inches long column tapering from the disc to the base, which can 
be contracted to 8 inches. The 124 marginal tentacles are 1% inches in 
diameter across the disc, when expanded. Found in shallow water from 
Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras. 
Telia crassicornis, (Gosse), has a short and thick 1% to 2 inches 
high column when extended, and short, thick tentacles. The colors of 
the disc are brilliant in varying shades of bluish-green mottled with crim- 
son, often bright cherry-red. The tentacles are somewhat lighter in color, 
usually grey and flesh-colored. It is voracious and will entrap small 
fishes, crabs, etc., that come into contact with the disc and tentacles. 
Found in shallow water from Massachusetts northward on ledges and in 
tide-pools. 
Edwardsia sipunculoides, (Stimp.), has a slender, brownish, truncated 1 
to 1144 inch long column, and 24 to 30 short tentacles about a narrow 
disc, usually of a dull grey or pinkish color. Another form, E. /ineata, 
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