Ecology of Ceriantharia (Coelenterata, Anthozoa) of the Northwest Atlantic from Cape Hatteras to Nova Scotia

Ceriantharia, tube dwelling anthozoans, were collected in grab samples and documented by direct observations and photographs from research submersibles on the continental shelf and slope off the northeast United States coast. Two species Cerianthus borealis and Ceriantheopsis americanus were identified from grab samples and four species, probably including C. borealis , were observed from submersibles. Ceriantharia occurred throughout the study area, abundantly at depths of 0 to 500 m and less abundantly from 900 to 2,400 m. Ceriantharia habitats displayed an extreme range from 8 degree to 16 degree C, and had every sediment type, except 100% gravel and coarse shifting sand. Geographic and bathymetric zonation is attributed primarily to temperature and secondarily to food supply and substrate type.