ABSTRACT
Observations from DSRV ALVIN and JOHNSON SEA-LINK in Bahamian waters, and the PC-8B off Jamaica reveal several distinct crinoid assemblages at different depths and on different substrates. South of Grand Bahama I., and off Jamaica in about 200m on sediment-veneered pavement and prominent outcrops, Cenocrinus asterius (Isocrinida) Leptonemaster venustus and Comactinia meridionalis hartlaubi (Comatulida) dominate. West of Little Bahama Bank in 280–400m on sediment-veneered pavement, abundant Endoxocrinus parrae and Neocrinus decorus (Isocrinida) appear with obviously different crown elevations; Democrinus brevis (Bourgueticrinida), normally associated with unconsolidated substrates, reaches densities of 5/m in 290m; an abundant comatulid fauna includes at least five species in four families. In the same area in 600–624m, short-stalked Diplocrinus maclearanus? reach densities of 15–20/m on lithoherms, whereas Isocrinus blakei (both Isocrinida) is restricted to intervening flats; the comatulid fauna is less diverse at this depth. Measured crinoidal contribution to the sediment reaches 11.6% by grain count but probably exceeds this in the densest aggregations. A stalked crinoid has been observed unattached and crawling.
