Range Extension of Branchiostoma californiense in Tomales Bay

Narchi, W; Watling, L

The only lancelet known from the coast of California is Branchiostoma californiense Cooper. Hubbs (1922) reports it from Monterey Bay to San Luis Gonzales Bay in the Gulf of California. Based on his synonymy of the species, Hubbs (1922 :11) suggests that Andrews, rather than Cooper' or Gill is the author. However we have followed the scheme of Drach (1948 :1029) who lists the author as Cooper. Ricketts and Calvin (1965 :244) report being unsuccessful in finding the animal while dredging in Monterey Bay, and they believe that the species never occurs littorally in the north. They have taken it at Newport Bay, at San Diego Bay, and in EI Estero de Punta Banda. The species is also known from deeper water off San Diego and in the Gulf of California. Branchiostoma californiense Cooper is reputed to be the largest lancelet' in the world, adult or sexually mature individuals having a maximum length of 83.5'mm. (Hubbs, 1922:12). Drach (1948 :1029) had the maximum length as 74 mm., but he apparently had not seen the paper of Hubbs (1922). Sampling in Tomales Bay, south-east of White Gulch (latitude 38° 11' 38" N., and longitude 1220 56' 45" W.) at a depth of approximately 40 feet, we obtained a large adult specimen of B. californiense Cooper. This finding is the first record of this animal in Tomales Bay, and represents a northern extension of its range. The specimen is also the largest to be reported, being >7 mm. long.

Range Extension of Branchiostoma californiense in Tomales Bay

Series