NO. 2 DEICHMANN: HOLOTHURIOIDEA; PART II, ASPIDOCHIROTA 305 



Semperothuria imitans (Ludwig) 

 PI. 4, figs. 8-12 



Holothuria imitans Ludwig, 1875, p. 109, pi. 7, fig. 41. Theel, 1886, p. 

 208; 1886a, p. 7. Panning, 1934, II, p. 39, fig. 33, complete list 

 of references. Cherbonnier, 1951, p. 18, pi. 4, figs. 1-15. 

 Holothuria languens Deichmann, 1930, p. 64, pi, 3, fig. 16; 1938, p. 

 367, text-fig. 3. 



Diagnosis: About 10 cm long, resembling Semperothuria languens 

 but appearing more delicate, with a clearer purplish brown coloring, a 

 more distinct pale area around the base of the appendages, and more 

 distinct dark dots or spots. Tables predominately with flat base and 

 parallel pillars in the spire ; spire topped by a flat Maltese cross formed 

 by eight spines, rarely a few accessory ones. Complete tables with smooth 

 to spinous disk edge occur, mostly near the appendages, and these often 

 have more irregular clusters of spines on the top — projecting upward or 

 approaching the double Maltese cross in shape. Feet with large end 

 plate, with a few perforated plates around the edge and a number of 

 curved rods or bars, with or without perforated ends and sometimes 

 with lateral projections occasionally forming marginal holes. Similar 

 rods in the dorsal appendages, with the end plate reduced or lacking. 



Type: Possibly in Germany. 



Type locality: Samoa. 



Distribution: In the Pacific Ocean, known with certainty from 

 Samoa (Ludwig), Panama (Theel), and numerous localities along the 

 west coast of the Panamic region, including the Galapagos and other 

 outlying islands. 



Depth: Shallow water, usually under flat rocks in pools. 



Specimens examined: Several in the Museum of Comparative 

 Zoology, hitherto mistakenly listed as Semperothuria languens. A series 

 of 110 specimens, ranging in size from 2 to 10 cm, collected by the 

 Hancock expeditions. The species is common in the Galapagos Islands, 

 where a complete series (2 to 10 cm long) was secured from 16 different 

 stations. It was also taken at Clarion and Cocos Islands, and the Secas 

 Islands, Panama. The remaining records are from the coast of Mexico, 

 from Isabel Island to off Guaymas, at about 27° N, in the Gulf of 

 California. 



Remarks: A comparatively large number of small individuals were 

 secured, with a few of the typical spicules but with a preponderance of 

 juvenile tables with large, fragile disk and tapering spire, with several 

 crossbeams and minute blunt teeth. There is of course the possibility 



