Boone, Echinodermata, Cruises of "Eagle" and "Ara," 1921-28 153 



Distribution: According to Dr. H. L. Clark this common West 

 Indian Stichopus is identical with specimens found in the West 

 Panamic and west African regions. Littoral. 



Material examined: Three specimens collected in Egg Island 

 Harbor, Bahamas, B. W. I., January 19, 1925, by the " Ara," Cat. no. 

 283. One specimen, badly corroded, from Port Tanamo, north coast 

 of Cuba, 2 fms., February 23, 1924, Cat. no. 284. One young specimen, 

 from Port Tanamo, Cuba, 2 fms., Feb. 23, 1924, Cat. no. 285. 



Color : The typical design of coloration is a buff ground color with 

 blackish or dark brown spots. From the study of extensive series of 

 living holothurians Dr. Clark found three definite lines of color varia- 

 tions: (a) one toward a uniform black coloration; (b) one toward 

 brown, olive or purple with few markings of buff, yellowish or white 

 through increased pigmentation accompanied by alteration in the 

 density of the pigment, and (c) a third, toward uniformly brownish 

 yellow specimens, through decreased pigmentation. The tentacles 

 range from deep blackish to nearly white but are more frequently 

 yellow. 



Habits: The younger adult stages of this species are colorless, 

 transparent, gelatinous-like animals that settle down in rock crevices 

 and lead a very sheltered existence until they are 80 to 100 mm. long, 

 by which time the pigmentation has begun to develop, giving the 

 cucumber distinct coloration but still translucent, the translucency 

 disappearing as the animals become older. By the time they are 125 

 to 150 mm. long, they live more in the open, the larger adults seeking 

 the weedy or sandy flats inshore, usually in 1 to 3 fms., but occasion- 

 ally found down to 10 fms. 



Discussion : The number of tentacles is 18 to 20 in adults, while 

 immature specimens frequently have fewer. The warty or tuber- 

 culated appearance of the skin of the tuberculated animal is too 

 variable to have value as a specific character. Similar diversity exists 

 in the number of pedicels. 



Dr. Clark has found that the calcareous deposits in the skin of this 

 species are subject to certain phases of growth changes. 



The typical deposits are of two kinds: (a) well developed, nearly 

 circular tables of about 40 to 50 n diameter and ornamented with a 

 peripheral circle of holes. The top of the spire usually has 12 to 16 

 teeth, (b) The C-shaped bodies vary a good deal in size, but a typical 

 one is about 60 n long. Both types of deposits are more fully devel- 

 oped than those of S. chloronotus, which they otherwise resemble. 



