NO. 2 DEICHMANN : HOLOTHURIOIDEA ; PART 11, ASPIDOCHIROTA 317 



also thinks (1951, p. 21). As the species has never been re-discovered in 

 Hawaii, a fairly well explored region, one feels inclined to believe that 

 the specimen came from the Panamic region and was given a wrong 

 locality label through some error. 



Depth: The species appears to live exclusively in the tide zone, 

 where it is usually taken attached to the underside of large, flat rocks. 



Specimens examined: The 19 paratypes of Selenkothuria lubrica, 

 the type of Holothuria kapiolaniae, about 70 specimens in the Museum 

 of Comparative Zoology, and about 500 specimens secured by the Han- 

 cock expeditions. 



Remarks: The Panamic species is closely related to the West In- 

 dian Selenkothuria glaberrima and the material collected by Steinbeck 

 and Ricketts and the Velero III in the Gulf of California shows that it 

 may reach the same large size and acquire the same dark color, though 

 the West Indian species never has the striking sulphur-colored disks on 

 the ventral feet. The distinguishing character between the two species is 

 the stouter, more spinous rods in Selenkothuria lubrica, which rarely 

 have the ends perforated, except in the rods of the tube feet. 



In contrast to the majority of the members of the genus, Selenko- 

 thuria lubrica shows an amazing variability in its outer coloring as well 

 as in its development of the spicules. With a smaller amount of material, 

 I would definitely have split the old species up into two or three smaller 

 groups. However, after having examined more than 500 individuals, 

 from the whole range of the species, I must admit that this is not pos- 

 sible. Generally speaking, the specimens from the Gulf of California 

 have delicate, less spinous rods, and tend to be darker in color, possibly 

 on account of the clearer water which permits the sun's rays to penetrate 

 more deeply; while those from the southern part of the region have 

 more strongly developed spines, and the color is dull gray or brown. 

 The types from Acapulco are dull gray or putty, with two rows of black 

 spots on the dorsum in some individuals. For the most part, they have 

 rods with weakly developed spines, but some, from near by, have rods 

 that are strongly spinous. 



I have therefore felt obliged to withdraw Holothuria pseudo-lubrica 

 Cherbonnier, from Panama, and have refrained from g'iving a special 

 name to the magnificent black form with sulphur-colored feet which Mr. 

 Ricketts brought back years ago from the Gulf of California, and which 

 the Velero III has also secured. 



The records of Holothuria lubrica from the Indo-West Pacific refer 

 to other species, such as Selenkothuria parva, S. moebi, etc., as stated 



