Four observations of serious grazing damage to gorgonaceans by Cyphoma 

 were exceptional but warrant individual attention. A small, un- 

 branched gorgonacean (10.7 cm tall), which appeared to be a 

 Pseudoplexaura sp. , was completely cleaned of polyps and coenenchyme 

 by an adult Cyphoma (2.6 cm long). In Panama, a 44 cm tall Gorgonia 

 f labellum was grazed by two adult Cyphoma for at least 104 days, 

 during which period they were joined by 3 other Cyphoma (including 

 1 juvenile 1.4 cm long). During the last 48-day period of these 

 observations, only a few scattered clumps (about 1 cm each) of 

 living polyps remained. Most of the Gorgonia had died and was 

 already covered with a rich, yellow-brown carpet of diatoms. Per- 

 haps due in part to the isolation of the Gorgonia on a solitary 

 coral head which was separated by sand from the rest of the reef, 

 none of the Cyphoma had left. Similarly, in Lameshur Bay, a single 

 Cyphoma remained on a Gorgonia sp. for at least 19 days. During 

 this time, the Cyphoma had almost totally grazed half of the 

 Gorgonia which was overgrown with diatoms. The other half of the 

 Gorgonia , which grew from a single base into two "fans," separate 

 except for the base, appeared perfectly healthy. The Cyphoma 

 still had not crossed to the healthy part when the observation period 

 had terminated. Finally, four Cyphoma which had remained on a single 

 Pseudopterogorgia americana for at least seven days, had seriously 

 damaged several branches of the gorgonacean. 



Although Cyphoma often does move from one prey individual to another, 

 the amount of time spent traveling is very small, on the order of 

 17o of the time spent actually on its prey. Only 2 of 108 Cyphoma 

 observed around the Tektite habitat were found moving along on dead 

 coral rubble, the rest were observed on living gorgonaceans. 

 Similarly, all but 1 of 150 Cyphoma observed in Panama were on 

 gorgonaceans. 



No significant difference in size distribution of adult Cyphoma 

 (larger than 2 cm long) was found between groups taken from the 

 eight species of prey (P ^50%, ANOVA, N=106) . However, very 

 small individuals (1.4, 1.2, 1.1, 1.1, 0.9, 0.6, 0.5 and 0.3 cm 

 long, respectively) were found only on Pseudopterogorgia 

 americana . In Panama, slightly larger individuals (1.5, 1.6 and 

 1.9 cm) were found on Gorgonia f labellum . Table 4 gives the 

 rate of removal of coenenchyme by Cyphoma for each of the eight 

 prey species. 



CONCLUSIONS /RECOMMENDATIONS 



Individual Cyphoma gibbosum demonstrate the same feeding preferences 

 as the entire species; we found no evidence that this preference was 

 influenced by previous meals. A peculiar aspect of the foraging 

 strategy of Cyphoma is that it often leaves a prey individual with 

 apparently little damage and moves on to another. (However, the 



VI-63 



