XO. 3 DEICHMANTN : HOLOTHURIOIDEA ; PART I, DENDROCHIROTA 1 1 1 



delicate tables with low spire and lacelike disk approaching rosettes in 

 complexity. Tentacles with perforated plates which often disappear in 

 the older individuals; besides more delicate rods and plates in the 

 branches, also rosettes. Color dirty white to almost black; oral end or at 

 least the tentacles and the introvert are always dark purplish to black in 

 color. 



Type. — M.C.Z. ; paratypes in Gottingen. 



Type locality. — Panama, depth not reported. 



Distribution. — Known from Acapulco, Alex., to Lobos de Afuera 

 Island. Peru, often in the same locations as N. panarnensis (Ludwig). 



Depth. — Tidemark to few fms., clinging to rocks. 



Specimens examined. — The type and several specimens in various 

 collections (from Acapulco, Panama, etc.). 



From the Velero Expeditions the following specimens have been ex- 

 amined : 



132-34. Braithwaite Bay, Socorro Island, Mex., 40 fms., January 4, 



1934, 5 small specimens. 



391-35. Lobos de Afuera Island, Peru, shore of main island with light- 

 house, rocks, January 17, 1935, 34 specimens. 

 466-35. Parker Bay, Costa Rica, shore, February 9, 1935, 14 specimens. 

 473-35. Parker Bay, Costa Rica, rocks and algae, 2 fms., February 9, 



1935, 2 specimens. 



844-38. Lobos de Afuera Island, Peru, shore, February 14, 1938, 14 

 specimens. 



Remarks. — Selenka's description is exceedingly brief and not accom- 

 panied by any figures. A good description and excellent figures are given 

 by Ludwig, who described the species as Thyone similis, also from 

 Panama. 



Neothyone gibber differs from the other species with knobbed buttons 

 from the Panamic region in its larger buttons, with strong tendency to 

 obliteration of the knobs and the presence of numerous spines on the ex- 

 ternal handle. Deichmann referred erroneously a specimen of Neothyone 

 gibbosa to this species (see p. 113), but the latter has verj' distinct knobs 

 on the buttons, and these are also much smaller as shown by the figures 

 here given. 



The smallest individuals, from Station 132-34, measure less than 0.5 

 cm., and the feet are restricted to the ambulacra. The spicules are con- 

 siderably smaller than in the larger individuals. 



