GULF OF MEXICO 



387 



tables with smooth four-pillared spire and few 

 holes in the tip of the arms of the disk. Type: 

 Museum of Comparative Zoology. Type locality: 

 Oflf St. Kitts. Distribution: Known from off the 

 Canaries, in the eastern part of the Atlantic, off 

 the Lesser Antilles, Ambergris Key, British Hon- 

 duras, and the northeast coast of Cuba. About 

 200 to 600 fathoms. 



Although it has not been reported in the Gulf 

 itself, it is most likely that the gap between north- 

 east Cuba and Ambergris Key will be closed when 

 more extensive dredging is undertaken in the 

 Gulf. It is seldom that one gets a complete speci- 

 men, but the large fungiform papillae and the 

 spicules should make it easy to recogaize this 

 species. 



3 Bathyplotes bigelowi Deichmann 



Balhyploles bigelowi Deichmann, 1940, p. 187, pi. 31, 

 figs. 1-2. 



Diagnosis. — Large form, 25 cm. Resembles B. 

 nutans but has two bands of large fungiform papil- 

 lae on the ventral side, and the spicules are large 

 delicate tables usually with a circular disk with 

 large holes in the ends of the four arms. Type: 

 Museum of Comparative Zoology. Type locality: 

 Bahia de Cochinos, southern Cuba. Distribution: 

 Waters around Cuba. From 220 to 320 fathoms. 

 So far it has been reported only in the Gulf, from 

 the northwest coast of Cuba, but it will un- 

 doubted!}' prove to belong to the fauna of the 

 waters around Yucatan. 



Genus 5 AMPHIGYMNAS Walsh, 1891 

 Amphigymnas bahamensis Deichmann 



Amphigymnas bahamensis Deichmann, 1930, p. 107, 

 pi. 9, fig. 9, pi. 10, figs. 1-6; 1940, p. 189, pi. 32, figs. 1-10. 



Diagnosis. — Large species with skin rigid from 

 spicules. Resembles a Synallactes, with four rows 

 of conical papillae on the dorsum, a lateral row 

 of stouter conical appendages and a midventral 

 double row of smaller ones. Inner anatomy like 

 that of Synallactes but muscle bands undivided. 



Spicules large to small tables with mostly four 

 central holes and smaller marginal ones; spire 

 mostly with four pillars, often reduced, besides 

 large perforated plates. Ventral appendages with 

 or without end plate, with walls packed with 

 supporting rods with dentate edge, and small 

 tables with three to four short pillars in spire. 

 Dorsal and lateral papillae with curved supporting 

 rods and tables of varying size but apparently 

 no trace of end plate. Color lavender, quickly 

 reduced to pure white in alcohol. Type: United 

 States National Museum. Type locality: Between 

 Bahamas and Cape Fear, 270 fathoms. Albatross 

 station 2666. Distribution: Known from the type 

 locality and the waters around Cuba and Florida. 

 In the Gulf taken south of the Mississippi Delta 

 {Oregon station 384, 29°10' N., 88°00' W., 265 

 to 300 fathoms). 



The largest specimen measures 33 cm. It was 

 collected in June 1951 by the Oregon and showed 

 four months later a beautiful lavender color which 

 probably in a few years will have completely faded 

 into a pure white. The spicules of the few speci- 

 mens which have been examined show great 

 variation, but there seems no doubt that they all 

 belong to the same species. It has so far never 

 been taken in the eastern Atlantic, but most 

 likely it does occur there. The only other 

 representative of the genus is found in the Indian 

 Ocean (see Deichmann 1930, p. 107). 



Family 2 STICHOPODIDAE 



KEY TO THE GENERA KNOWN FROM THE GULF OF MEXICO 



1. Large, thick-skinned forms with feet in crowded bands on the ventral side and large warts on the vaulted dorsal side- 

 Spicules tables ; C-shaped bodies present in some species 1 . Stichopus Brandt, p. 387 



1. Large thick-skinned forms with numerous tube feet scattered all over the body but not forming a ventral sole, nor has 

 the dorsal side di-stinct warts. Spicules minute grains, and C-shaped bodies 2. Aslichopus H. L. Clark, p. 388 



Stichopus Brandt, 1835 



1. Deep water form (200 fathoms). Prominent lateral brim of papillae. Spicules large tables with up to 50 holes in 

 disk 1_ Stichopus regalis (Cuvier), p. 388 



1. Shallow water (reef dweller, probably down to 25 to 30 fathoms depth). No prominent lateral brim of papillae. Spic- 

 ules small fables with few holes in the disk; often also C-shaped bodies 2. Stichopus- badionotiis Selenka, p. 388 



2.19534 O— 54- 



