NO. 1555. HA WA IT A N HOL TH I mi A NS—FI,SHEJi. 7 2 3 



OPHEODESOMA, new genus. 



Type. — Opheode^oma spccfuhH/x. 



Numeroujs madreporic canals, distri])utcd around tho ring- canal. 

 Cai'tilag-inou.s ring- .sometimes presont, when perforations are along- 

 anterior border, not along- posterior border as in Syn(i]>fi(la. The 

 two large lateral holes in handle of anchor plate absent, the central 

 hole larger than in K\iapta., and rounded, not acut^i, on the outer edge; 

 plates otherwise as in Euapta. Calcareous ring- ^\'ith conspicuous 

 anterior projections. Tentacles and anchors as in Eua}>t(i. Retractors 

 present. 



Some notes on this genus will be found under the following species. 

 The genus includes species mentioned under section B of Ostergren's 

 Euapta — gJal)ra (Semper), <jfi><e<i (Semper), and srrpcnthiAi (J. Miiller). 



OPHEODESOMA SPECTABILIS, new species. 

 Plate LXVI; Plate LXXX, ligs. 1, !«-(/; Plate l.XXXl, lig. 2. 



Tentacles 15 (ver}^ rarely 1»!). rather long, pinnate; digits, 30 to TO 

 (usually 50 to 54), united for half their length l)y a web. When lin- 

 ing the animal is characterized usuallj^ by five regular series of mun- 

 erous large g-lol)ular protruberances extending- from end to end of 

 body; occasionally these are ab.sent. Body wall rough, opaque. De- 

 posits: Symmetrical anchor plates with six large toothed holes, and in 

 the handle one still larger hole (serrate on border toward free or larg-e 

 end of plate and rounded, not acute on opposite border), and in addi- 

 tion four or five small smooth holes bordering free edge of handle. 

 Occasionally one or two small partially serrate holes are present on 

 distal border of plate, causing some asymmetry. Anchors witb smooth 

 flukes, and about seven to ten minutely spinous protul)erar' es on the 

 stock or handle to shaft. Miliary granules, tiny rosettes r ually with 

 a small hole in center. Cartilaginous ring well dcv. oped, with 

 mediinu-sized holes on anterior border, adjacent to c:i, ireous ring. 

 Polian vesicles many (over 100); madreporic canals si ill and very 

 numerous, forming a crowded series over the whole xtent of ring- 

 canal. Color in life, reddish orange spotted with brc svn, the brown 

 forming- transverse more or less interrupted ])ands; \ entral surface 

 posteriorly grayish, spotted with whitish and bair' d with dark gray. 

 Tentacles dark dull greenish. The protruberances are usually rather 

 dark. Length variable. The largest individuals observed were 600 

 mm. long (2 feet). Others were 300 to 450 mm. The length depends 

 largely, of course, on the amount of extension of the animal at moment 

 of measurement. 



Locality.— ^9nv\ Harbor, near Honolulu, Oahu (Aiea and other por- 

 tions of harbor). Very common in shallow water on sandy bottom 

 and on submerged coral; 60 specimens. 



