40 G Canadian Arctic Expedition, 1913-18 



Family ANTHOMASTID^. New family. 



I now propose to establish a new family of Alcyonacea to include Anthonias- 

 tus Ver., and Sarcophytum Less., hitherto included in the family Alcyonidse. 

 Its principal diagnostic characters are the presence of an expanded polj'piferous 

 upper body supported on a barren stalk, with the two regions well differentiated, 

 and the presence of numerous fertile siphonozooids between the polyps, on the 

 upper surface. The form may be Agaricus-\\ke (mushroom-shaped), or the 

 upper portion may be lobed or divided into frondose forms. 



The genus Sarcophytum Less, is abundant in most tropical seas, except in 

 the West Indies and on West American coasts. It is characteristic of shallow 

 water on coral reefs. . Its polyps are small, but it often grows in large frondose 

 masses, as well as in mushroom-shapes. It is abundant in the Red Sea, East 

 Indies, Australian reefs, etc. 



Anthomastus (^'errill, 1878,) is a deep water genus, confined to cold waters. 

 It was first found on the Newfoundland Banks in 1878, but several species are 

 now known coming from nearly all parts of the world where deep sea dredging 

 has been done, both in the colder seas and in the tropics. 



The polj-ps are always relatively large and retractile, while the fertile 

 siphonozooids are small and destitute of tentacles. All the species appear to be 

 of some shade of red or purple, and when mature are usually mushroom-shaped 

 or biscuit-shaped. Some species become large. They are often found on muddy 

 bottoms where they anchor themselves by lobulated root-hke processes. But 

 our species, and probably also all the others, can also attach itself to stones, etc., 

 and it then has a broad encrusting base, either simple or lobed. These notable 

 differences are not to be regarded as specific, for all intermediate states are 

 found in the same species. So, likewise, the forms of the individuals of a species 

 vary greatly, according to their ages and environment. They may be tall with 

 a long stem, or low and broad with a short stalk, etc. 



Anthomastus grandiflorus Verrill. 



Anthomastus grandiflorus Yebrill, American Journal Science, ser. 3, vol. XVI, 

 p. 376; Brief Cont. to Zoology, No. 39, 1878; Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., 

 vol. XI, p. 41, pi. I, figs. 7-lOb; Annual Report, U.S. Comm. Fish and 

 Fisheries for 1883, pp. 513, 533, pi. ii, fig 12, 1885. Also a figure in Web- 

 ster's International- Dictionary, pp. 63, 1975, ed. of 1890 and in ed. of 

 1904. Whiteaves, List. Invert., op cit., p. 31, 1901. 



Anthomastus purpureus (as Sarcophyton) Koren and Danielssen, Fauna Litt. 

 Norv., 1883. Molander, op cit., p. 43, 1901 (details). 



Anthomastus agaricus Studer, op. cit., p. 27, pi. i, figs. 1-9, 1901 (Young). 



Plate XIV; Figs. 5-7. Plate XVII; Figs. 1-ld. 



When well grown this is a large species, with mmrerous very large polyps, 

 perhaps the largest known in any Alcyonarian genus, except that those of some 

 species of Umbellula may be as large or larger. 



The form is usuallj' somewhat mushroom-like (Agaricus-shape). The 

 upper part is thick and often considerably larger than the stalk, and may become 

 3 to 5 inches or more in diameter (75 to 120 mm.). The summit is more or less 

 convex and when large bears a large number of large exsert polyps, becoming in 

 partial expansion 20 to 25 mm. high and sometimes over an inch (25 to 30 mm.) 

 across, the tentacles, even in alcohol. They are entirely retractile into calicles 

 that are onlj^ slightly elevated and eight-lob'ed. Young specimens often occur 

 with only two or three large polyps and with a thick convex top. 



