Exnodesmis yerticellata (Rut zing) Borgesen. Found occasionally on 

 rocks and once on a small sKell in 16 to 20 m depth, on the 

 algal plain. Reported by Taylor (^1960} from various places 

 in the Caribbean in shallow, very quiet, shaded pools, reach- 

 ing a depth of 9 m. Randall (1964) found this species in 

 the stomach contents of the queen couch, S trombus gigas . 



*IIalicysti s osterhoutii L. R. and A. H. Blinks. Collected twice 

 on calcareous rubble on the algal plain in 16 to 18 m depth. 

 A new record for the Virgin Islands. 



Halimeda discoidea Decaisne. Occasional low plants were found 

 on the algal plain 40 to 150 m from the reef in 16 to 20 

 m depth. Reported to 50 m depth by Taylor (1960) . 



Halimeda incrassata (Ellis) Lamouroirx. A common, conspicuous 



plant of the algal plain, dominant over wide areas, often in 

 association with Lobophora variegata , Anadyomene stellata , 

 species of Avrainvillea , and numerous epiphytes. Found in 

 5 to 31 m depth, most abundant 50 or more meters from the 

 reef (to more than 200 m distant) , but in places within 

 20 m. Also common mixed with Syringodiimi in grass beds, 

 and forming stands in open areas within the beds. Reported 

 from shallow water to 40 m depth by Taylor (1960) . On the 

 algal plain, the following fishes were observed eating 

 H. incrassata : Acanthostracion quadricornis , Balistes 

 vetula , and Pomocanthus arcuatus . During feeding trials, 

 it was eaten by Acanthurus bahianus , A. coeruleus , A. 

 chirurgus , Halichoeres poeyi , Pomocanthus arcuatus , 

 Scarus croicensis , Sparisoma aurof renatimi , S_. coeruleus , 

 and S_. rubripinne . Randall (1967) reported only Balistes 

 vetula as a consimier of H. incrassata , but found "Halimeda sp." 

 in the stomach contents of the following fishes: Alutera 

 schoepfi, Eupomocentrus f uscus , Lactophrys trig onus , 

 Lactophrys triquete r , and Sparisoma rubripinne . Fragments of 

 Halimeda , probably including H. incrassata , were found in the 

 stomach contents of S trombus gigas (Randall, 1964) . 



*Pseudotetraspora antillarum Howe. Common on the surface of the 

 TEKTITE habitat, on blades of Syringodium in grass beds, but 

 most conspicuous on blades of Udotea conglutinata and U. 

 flabellum from grass beds and the algal plain in 10 to 22 m 

 depth. Previously reported only from shallow water in the 

 Bahamas and Florida; a new record here for the Virgin Islands. 



VI-182 



