CHARACTERISTIC DEEP-SEA TYPES. CORALS. 



153 



The Fungidae are a very characteristic shallow- water form in 

 the Pacific, and it is interesting to note that from deep water 



Fig. 474. Axohelia mirabilis. ^. (Pourtales.) 



Fig. 475. Thecopsammia socialis. 

 -L&-. (Pourtales.) 



the dredge has brought up three small, simple species, the first 

 simple Fungia found in our seas. Of these 

 we may mention Fungia symmetrica (Fig. 

 476), found by the dredgings of the " Chal- 

 lenger " to be one of the most common deep- 

 sea corals. It has a world-wide distribution ; 

 it occurs in the West and South Atlantic, and 

 in the North and South Pacific, and has a very 

 extended bathymetrical range ; it has been 

 dredged by the " Challenger " in 30 fathoms 



and in 2,900 fathoms, and in all inter- 

 mediate depths. The range of tem- 

 perature which it sustains varies from 

 1 to 20 C. It has been found by 

 the " Blake " ranging from 175 to 

 800 fathoms in the Gulf of Mexico, 

 the Straits of Florida, and the Carib- 



Fig. 476. Fungia 

 symmetrica. J. 

 (Pourtales.) 



Fig. 477. Diaseris crispa. 

 (Pourtales. ) 



