HABITAT: Collected in depths of 80-4,540 m (Day 1973). In the 

 New York Bight apex, we found a few specimens of Tharyx annulo- 

 sus in depths as shallow as 32 m, although the majority were found 

 at greater depths. Tharyx annulosus was found in all sediment 

 types, with largest numbers occurring in fine sand. Very high num- 

 bers were often found in sediments of high organic content but none 

 were found at the station with the highest content of organic matter 

 (13.9%). Tharyx annulosus was also present in large numbers in 

 medium and low organic areas (Fig. 51; Table 1). 



FEEDING ECOLOGY: T. annulosus, as other cirratulids, is a 

 surface deposit feeder (see Tharyx acutus for details). However, in 

 a New Jersey outer continental shelf sample, a specimen of T. 

 annulosus was found to have eaten another polychaete of the genus 

 Lumbrineris (Frame footnote 10). 



REPRODUCTION AND GROWTH: In winter, there were 3.3 

 times more T. annulosus in the Bight than in summer, possibly indi- 

 cating a fall or winter spawning period (see T. acutus). 



Caulleriella killariensis (Southern, 1914) 



DESCRIPTION: Discretely motile, body threadlike, 8-12 mm 

 long (Day 1973). 



HABITAT: Reported from depths of 10-20 m (Day 1973). In the 

 New York Bight apex, Caulleriella killariensis was present in 

 depths up to 33 m in sediments ranging from coarse to fine sand. It 

 was rarely present in sediments containing >3% organic material 

 (Fig. 52: Table 1). 



FEEDING ECOLOGY: C. killariensis, like other cirratulids, is a 

 surface deposit feeder (see Tharyx acutus). 



REPRODUCTION AND GROWTH: Gibbs (1971) reported 

 Caulleriella caput-esocis to be capable of spawning over several 

 years. He reported that the diameter of mature oocytes in Plym- 

 outh, England, was 110 ^m and the main spawning season was 

 from August to October. Caulleriella caput-esocis reached a maxi- 

 mum density of 22,000/m : in early summer. Females produced 

 1,000-5.000 oocytes. 



In contrast to most species found in the New York Bight apex, 

 which were present in greater numbers during summer months, C. 

 killariensis was 2.3 times more abundant in winter than in summer 

 in terms of more individuals at the same stations. This indicates that 

 C. killariensis probably breeds here during fall or winter months 

 (see T. acutus). 



Cossura longocirrata Webster and Benedict, 1887 



DISTRIBUTION: Ireland (Day 1973). New York Bight (Pearce. 

 Rogers, Caracciolo, and Halsey 1977). 



DESCRIPTION: Small, threadlike, motile, burrowing form; 

 length about 6 mm, 50-70 segments. A single, very long median 



i o 1 



;!40 '/ 40/ 



1 X - \t 



\ \ \ k \i 



i v ~ \ \ i o o I/ 



; /ii \ 



□ 



4030- 



4020' 



4010 



7350' 



73°40' 



Figure 52.— Distribution and abundance of Caulleriella killariensis in the New 

 York Bight apex. 



Figure 53. — Distribution and abundance of Cossura longocirrata in the New 

 York Bight apex. 



36 



