OISTRIBUTION ANO ANNUAL OCCURRENCE OF CHAETOGNATHA OFF CANANEIA ANO SANTOS COAST (SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL)

ratodentata, Krohnitta pacifica and Pterosagitta draco. S. friderici is a typical coas tal water species. S. enfTata is a typical shelf water species. S. hispida and K. pacifica were present more frequently in shelf water but they Were sometimes very abundant in coastal water. S. serratodentata, S. minima and P. draco occurr-ed sparingly in tropical water, however, very few samples were taken in this water mass. Three different maturity stages were established (juvenile, intermediate and adult) in order to study the annual variation of the Chaetognatha. A special breeding period throughout the year was not observed as great swarms of juve-uiles and intermediates were found in spite of the very small number of adults. Two series of samples taiken off Santos at a fixed station (Pt. lIn during a period of 24 hours in three different leveIs were aIs o counted to study the vertical distribution of the Chaetognatha in this area. The three most abundant species were: S. enfTata, S. hispida and K. pacifica. S. enfULta was more frequent at mid~water. S. hispida and K. pacifica seemed to prefer the surface Iayer. The thermocline did not affect their vertical migration except for S. hispida. There is indication that S. serratodentata performs vertical movements. S. minima seems to live below 25 m depth. K. subtilis occurred exceptionally in this vertical series of samples