The question now becomes whether all Cyphoma prefer Gorgonia spp. or 

 whether many prefer Gorgonia but a few prefer other genera. If 

 individual preferences differ, we also ask if this appears due to 

 previous experience. To determine this we took Cyphoma which 

 naturally occurred on particular species of gorgonaceans and released 

 them in positions where 2 or 3 species of gorgonaceans arose from 

 adjoined bases. The "choices" made by Cyphoma are given in Table 2. 

 In all cases, Gorgonia spp. is preferred over other gorgonaceans. 

 Two Cyphoma taken from Pseudopterogorgia americana selected V. 

 americana over Gorgonia spp. , otherwise Gorgonia was invariably 

 selected. 



Cyphoma often moved from one prey individual to another. During the 

 three weeks of our mission, 20 (367o) of 56 Cyphoma switched prey 

 (Table 3). Of particular interest is the fact that in all these 

 cases the prey were left with apparently negligible damage. 



Cyphoma 

 taken from* 



Cyphoma 

 given choice of* 



y/ found on 

 each prey 



Gorgonia sp. 



Gorgonia sp. 

 Pseudopterogorgia americana 



Pseudopterogorgia 

 americana 



Gorgonia sp. 

 Pseudopterogorgia americana 



Gorgonia sp. 



Gorgonia sp. 

 Plexaura flexuosa 



Pseudoplexaura 

 f lagellosa 



Gorgonia sp. 



Pseudoplexaura f lagellosa 

 Plexaura homomalla homomalla 



Plexaura homomalla 

 kukenthali 



Gorgonia sp. 

 Plexaura flexuosa 



Gorgonia sp. 



Pseudoplexaura f lagellosa 

 Plexaura flexuosa 

 other 





 2 

 3** 



Table 2. Selections made by Cyphoma when placed on the border of 



abutted gorgonaceans. 

 * Identifications tentative. 



** One moved 110 cm to Gorgonia sp. , one 65 cm to Gorgonia sp. , 

 other disappeared. 



VI-61 



