72 THE APODOTJS HOLOTHTJRIANS 



EUAPTA Ostergren, i8g8b. 



Tentacles pinnate, 15, occasionally 16; individuals not fully mature often 

 have 12, 13, or 14. Digits numerous, 10-35 on each side. Cartilaginous ring 

 usually wanting. Polian vessels numerous. Stone-canals one or more. Sense- 

 organs, in form of pigment-eyes at base of tentacles on oral disc, often present. 

 Stock of anchors distinctly branched; arms smooth; vertex with some minute 

 knobs. Anchor-plates with large central hole surrounded by six (rarely seven) 

 other large holes, all more or less dentate, and with several holes of variable 

 size and arrangement (one on each side, large), but with smooth margins, at 

 posterior end, where a well-formed and arched bow crosses outer surface of plate. 



The Synaptids of this genus are of large size and variable color, shades 

 of brown, dull green, and gray predominating. They occur in shallow water, 

 upon or near reefs in tropical seas. The number of valid species is doubtful, as 

 it is impossible to determine from the material and data now available what is 

 the status of the following forms, which seem to belong here or in one of the next 

 four genera: Fistularia fusca and punctulata Quoy and Gaimard, 1833; Onci- 

 nolabes mollis Brandt, 1835; Synapta intestinalis, raynaldi and zebrina Held, 

 1857, and Fistularia vittata Forskal, 1775 (see under Synaptula, p. 80). The 

 forms here recognized as valid species may not prove, on examination of more 

 extensive material, to be distinct. The differences which are supposed to sepa- 

 rate them are really very slight and doubtless variable, and further study of 

 the living animals is necessary to fully determine their relationship. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES OF EUAPTA 



Base of digits united by a membrane; malformation of anchors more or less frequent; East 



I ndian GODEFFROYI 



Base of digits not united by a membrane; malformation of anchors very rare; West Indian. 



LAPPA 



EUAPTA GODEFFROYI. 



Synapta godeffroyi Semper, 1868, p. 231. Calcareous ring and particles, pi. xxxix, 



fig. 13. 

 Euapta godeffroyi Ostergren, 18986. 



LENGTH. 200-400 mm., with diameter 15-20 mm. 



COLOR. Yellowish gray or creamy-white, with radii indicated by greenish- 

 brown or pale brown stripes, and the dorsal interradii marked with large, dusky 

 greenish-brown blotches. Young speckled with silvery gray (Bedford, '99o). 



DISTRIBUTION. Reported from Mauritius (Haacke, Ludwig) ; Thursday 

 Island, Torres Strait (Sluiter) ; Great Sangir Island, Celebes (Sluiter) ; 

 Pelew Islands (Bedford) ; Caroline Islands (Bedford) ; Fiji Islands (Lam- 

 pert) ; Rotuma (Bedford) ; Samoa (Semper) ; and Hawaii (Fisher). Apparently 



