Sargassum filipendula C. Agardh. Found in four places on the algal 

 plain attached to limestone 20 to 100 m from the reef in 18 

 to 22 m depth. Most plants were 25 to 30 cm high, but the main 

 axis of one farthest distant on the plain was a meter high. 

 Reported by Taylor (1960) from the intertidal to 33 m depth. 

 Although not recorded among stomach contents of fishes examined 

 by Randall (1967) it is likely to be eaten by fishes that are 

 known to eat other species of Sargassum, These include 

 Acanthurus bahianus , A. chirurgus , iJalTstes vetula, Canthiderma 

 sufflamen , Kyphosus incisor , K. sectatrix, Melichthys niger 

 and Porno canthus paru . 



Sphacelaria furcigera Kutzing. Probably common, but collected only 

 twice, once on the surface of the TEKTITE habitat, once 

 epiphytic on Hypoglossum tenuif oliimi in 22 m depth 30 m from 

 the reef. Undoubtedly eaten by fishes that clip the filamentous 

 turf from rocks and coral. Randall (1964) found it in the 

 stomach contents of the queen conch, S trombus gigas . 



Sphacelaria tribuloides Meneghini. Probably common, but collected 

 only twice , once on dead coral on the reef and once on a shell 

 on the algal plain in 21 m depth 40 m from the reef. Randall 

 (1967) recorded Kyphosus sectatrix and Melichthys niger as 

 consumers, and found Sphacelaria sp. in the stomach contents 

 of Sparisoma rubripinne . 



Sphacelaria sp. Sterile plants of uncertain specific identity were 



found on Udotea conglutinata from a grass bed in 10 m depth and 

 on Galaxura obtusata from the algal plain in 20 m depth. 



Streblonema sp. A minute epiphyte, apparently of this genus, was 



found on Laurencia obtusa in 20 m depth 30 m from the reef face. 



Turbinaria tricostata Barton. Common on rock in 2 to 5 m depth at 

 Virgin Gorda but not found in Lameshur Bay. Randall (1967) 

 reported Kyphosus incisor and K. sectatrix as consimiers of 

 the closely related T^. turbinata . 



RHODOPHYTA. Red algae. 



Acanthophora spicifera (Vahl) Borgesen. Common throughout the algal 

 plain in 15 to 23 m depth and found conce on the reef at the 

 base of a living coral head. Reported by Taylor (1960) to only 

 3 m depth. During feeding trials, Acanthurus chirurgus and 

 Pomo canthus arcuatus ate this species and Randall (1967) found 

 it in the stomach contents of the following fishes: Alutera 

 scripta , Blennius cristatus , Eupomocentrus f us cus , Lactophrys 

 trig onus , Ophiob lennius atlanticus , Scarus coelestinus , S_. 

 vetula, Sparisoma radians . It was also found by Randall (1964) 

 in the stomach contents of the queen conch, Strombus gigas . 



VI-188 



