OM rilE FAUNA OP JAFAiV. \^ 



Macrocheira haempferi, wliicli appears to be confined to this zone, on 

 the Pacific side. Neptunus trituherculatus is also endemic and ranges 

 all around Japan proper. Having a range nearly similar to the giant 

 crab is an edible spiuy lobster, Falinurus Japontcus. Besides, there is 

 a good catch of penaeid prawns which are decidedly stragglers from the 

 southern zone. 



Widely distributed in this zone are found a few ear-shells, of 

 which Haliotis diversicolor, an inhabitant of the southern sea, abounds 

 in shallow water. Amongst varieties of Id. yigantea, discus has a 

 range much wider than mekai, extending from Kyushu in the south 

 to as far north as Kinkwasau, on the Pacific side, and to the Tappi-saki, 

 on the Japan Sea side. Turbo cormdus finds a favourable situation 

 here. Deep in the Sagami Sea occurs Fleurotomaria heyrichi, which is 

 of great interest on account of its representing a relic of the geological 

 period. Amongst the cephalopods we find such distinctive species as 

 Idioteuthis latipinna, Meleagroteuthis separata, Opisthoteuthis depressa, 

 and Amphitretus pelagicus. Of these the last is of a beautiful and 

 almost jelly-fish-like appearance and inhabits the Sagami Sea. 



Just outside of Tokyo bay lies a coral -bed, which presents us with 

 species entirely difi'erent from those found in the waters around Shikoku 

 and Kyushu. They are CoraUium bosliuensis, (J. sidacatum, and C. 

 pitsillum. 



Medusae and hydroids are very much in evidence. Some of the 

 most remarkable are Olindioides formosa, Branchiocerianthus impera- 

 tor, etc. 



Now, let us turn to glance at peculiarities of the fauna in some of 

 the rock-pools in this zone. The bay of Sagami is zoologically an 

 interesting body of water and commands, as is well known, a very rich 

 fauna with tlie same types of animals as are found in the southern, or 

 northern seas. In the shallower areas above the 200 metre line we can 

 distinguish the home of Metacrinus and of many forms of pennatulids 

 {Scleroheleimnon sclimeltzii, Virgularia ahies, Funiculina quadrangula- 

 ris, Pteroides sagamiense, etc.). In the deeper parts there can be 

 found UyaJonema, Euplevtella, lihahdocalyptus, and other siliceous 

 sponges. It is also the home of Chloniydoselachus, Fleurotomaria, and 

 Blacrocheiro. 



Pemarkable is it that a few southern or tn>[>ical fishes are found 

 denizens of a pond and sti-eams of hot mineral water at Ito, Shidzuoka 

 prefecture. The following are those which are discovered in the pond 



