ABSTRACT
Three pearlfish species occur in the western central Atlantic region. Adults of these species are infrequently encountered but their larvae can be locally abundant. Snyderidia canina (subfamily Pyramondontinae) is a pelagic or epi-benthic species widely distributed in deep, oceanic waters. Carapus bermudensis (Carapinae, Carapini) is an obligate inquiline species that resides within the body cavity of sea cucumbers, usually in shallow, coral reef habitats. Echiodon dawsoni (Carapinae, Echiodontini) is an apparently free-living benthic species occupying inshore waters to depths of about 100 m on the continental shelf. Adults of Carapus bermudensis and Ec. dawsoni are distributed along the western shores of the Atlantic Ocean, Bermuda and the Caribbean Sea south to Brazil (Olney 2003f). Their larvae are long-lived and highly dispersal; thus, they occupy a larger range than the adults. Globally, the family Carapidae contains about 31 species in seven genera that are widely distributed in tropical, subtropical and temperate seas. While some species are free living (all pyramodontines and all Echiodon spp.), the remaining species possess highly specialized behavioral associations with marine invertebrates such as starfish, seas cucumbers, bivalves and sea squirts. Some pearlfish species exit the host at night to feed while others never leave the host and prey on its internal organs. Markle & Olney (1990) present a phylogenetic treatment of the pearlfishes, including hypotheses of intra-relationships based on morphological analysis, descriptions of new taxa and descriptions of larvae. Gordon et al. (1984) review early life history including available information on egg and embryological development. Olney & Markle (1979), Markle & Olney (1980), Markle et al. (1983), Govoni et al. (1984), Ambrose (1996n) and Olney et al. (2000) present larval descriptions and aspects of larval development. The early life history, population and recruitment dynamics, patterns of age and growth, spawning behavior, details of reproductive traits and general ecology of most pearlfish species are poorly known.
