38 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 234 



The tentacles are short (TLI 50.0), stout, as large as the arms, and 

 are rounded aborally and flattened orally. They bear short clubs 

 (CLI 25.0) which are slightly expanded. There is a single broad 

 web on the dorsal margin which originates just proximad of the club 

 and extends nearly to the distal tip. The suckers of the club are 

 arranged in six distinct rows and are very small (0.2 mm. in diameter) 

 with round apertures. 



The color in alcohol is yellowish. 



There is no gladius. 



Measurements and indices of the holotype of Sepiadarium gracilis 

 Voss, 1962, are: 



Discussion. — The genus Sepiadarium was founded by Steenstrup 

 in 1881 to contain a single species, S. kochii, from Deep Water Bay, 

 Hong Kong. Subsequent to that date, four other species were 

 recorded: auritum Robson, 1914; austrinwn Berry, 1921; nipponi- 

 anum Berry, 1932; and malayense Robson, 1932. Berry discussed 

 the affinities and distribution of the first three species (1921) and 

 later (1932a) showed that the species S. kochii of authors was com- 

 posed of two species, kochii Steenstrup and nipponianum Berry. 

 Robson's (1932a) brief description of malayense has never been am- 

 plified and the species has not been taken since. Robson's species 

 was described the same year that Berry described nipponianum and 

 redefined kochii, neither being aware of the other's paper. I have 

 examined the type of malayense in the British Museum (BM 

 1938.5.9.42) but although now well curated, it had formerly dried up 

 (perhaps at the Raffles Musemn or in transit to London) and nothing 

 of value could be derived from it. S. kochii, as redefined by Berry, 

 seems to be directly comparable to malayense, which was very briefly 

 and inadequately described and flgured by Robson. The only major 

 differences between the two seem to be in the arm order and the arm 

 length. The differences in lengths from which the arm order is 

 compiled are trivial. The MAI is smaller for kochii because of 

 shorter arms; it may be due to flaccidity in malayense but the condi- 

 tion of the type prohibits a check. The description of the hectocoty- 

 lized arm fits one as well as the other and in the light of these 

 considerations I consider that malayense should be placed in the syn- 

 onymy of S. kochii. 



