Syrtngodlum flllforme Kutzlng. CCymodocea manatorum , 



'huanatee graasi." This species Is the most abundant 

 -vascular plant In Lameshur Bay In depths from IQ to 

 23 m depth, and Is common mixed with Thalassla in 

 5 to 10 m depth. Randall C1963J reported It from a 

 maximum of 72 feet In th.e Virgin Islands. Epiphytes 

 are often ntm:erous and algal associates include 

 several species of slphonous green algae and Dictyota . 

 Randall (1967) reported the following fishes as 

 consumers: Acanthiirus hahlanus , A^. chirurgus , 

 A. coeruleus , Alutera schoepfl , Archosargus rhomboida 

 is , Chaetodipterus faber , Eupomocentrus fuscus , 

 Hemiramphus brasiliensis , Kyphosus sectatrix , Lactophrys 

 bicaudalls , L. trigonus , Melichthys niger Pomo can thus 

 paru , Scarus guacamaia , Sparisoma aurof renatxim . On 

 the plain, Canthigaster rostrata , Sparisoma rubriplnne 

 and Pomocanthus arcuatus were seen eating this species, 

 and during feeding trials, the following fishes selected 

 it among various plants offered: Acanthurus babianus , 

 A. chirurgus , A. coeruleus , Pomocanthus arcuatus , 

 Sparisoma aurof renattmi and Scarus coeruleus . The 

 queen conch, S trombus glgas , also feeds on Syringodiiim 

 (Randall, 1964). 



Thalassla testudinim Konig. "Turtle grass." This species 

 was found from the Intertidal area to about 13 m depth. 

 Randall (1963) reported its occurrence in the Virgin 

 Islands to a maximum depth of 43 feet. It is frequently 

 mixed with Syringodium and an assortment of algae, 

 especially siphonous green algae and species of Dictyota . 

 Randall (1967) recorded Thalassla in the stomach contents 

 of the following fishes: Acanthostraclon quadricornis , 

 Acanthurus bahianus , A. chirurgus , Alutera schoepfl , 

 A. scripta , Archosargus rhomb oidalis , Cantherhines pullus , 

 Canthigaster rostrata , Eupomocentrus planif rons , Hemiramphls 

 brasiliensis , Lactophrys bicaudalls , L^. trigonus , L^. 

 trlquerter , Moncanthus cillatus , Mugll curema , Scarus 

 coelestinus , S^. guacamaia , S^. Taeniopterus , S^. vetula , 

 Sparisoma chrysopterus , S^. radlcans , S^. rubriplnne , 

 S^. viride, and Sphaeroides spenglerl . The urchin, 

 Diadema antillarxmi and the queen conch, Strombus gigas 

 also eat Thalassla (Randall, 1964; Randall, e^t al . 1964). 



VI-199 



