THE APODOUS HOLOTHURIANS 115 



CHIRIDOTA ROTIFERA. 



Synapta rotifera Pourtales, 1851, p. 15. 



Chirodota rotifera Stimpson, 1860. Ludwig, 1881<z, p. 41; pi. in, figs. 1-15. 



Chiridota rotifera Ludwig, 1892&. 



LENGTH. Up to 100 mm.; usually about 50. 



COLOR. Reddish or purplish, with light tentacles and numerous white 

 wheel-papilla 1 . 



DISTRIBUTION. Reported from Biscayne Bay, Florida (Pourtales) ; Brazil 

 (Ludwig, Verrill, Rathbun) ; Jamaica (Clark); Key West, Florida (Clark, 

 antea) ; and Bermuda (Clark). Apparently a typical West Indian species, with 

 the same distribution as Synaptula hydriformis. 



REMARKS. This is one of the best known and most distinctly characterized 

 species of the genus, and is of particular interest because it is viviparous a 

 fact first noted by Ludwig ('81a); the eggs undergo their development in the 

 body cavity of the mother, as in Synaptula hydriformis. It occurs commonly 

 under stones and fragments of coral on sandy beaches or among living corals, 

 in shallow water, and is somewhat gregarious, a number often being found 

 under the same stone. 



CHIRIDOTA 

 Chiridota fernandensis Ludwig, 1898c', p. 446. 



LENGTH. Up to 100 mm. 



COLOR. In life, brownish yellow; in alcohol, whitish yellow; very numer- 

 ous small wheel-papilla?, white. 



DISTRIBUTION. Reported only from the Island of Juan Fernandez (Lud- 

 wig). 



REMARKS. This species was collected by Dr. Ludwig Plate in March, 3898. 

 He seems to have found it quite common, as some 20 specimens were taken. 

 Nothing is recorded of its habits or habitat. 



CHIRIDOTA STUHLMANNI. 



Chirodota stulilmanni Lampert, 1896, p. 67. 

 Chiridota stulilmanni Ostergren, 1898 b. 



LENGTH. 80 mm. 



COLOR. Yellowish, with white wheel-papilla 1 , each of which has a rust-red 

 dot. 



DISTRIBUTION. Reported only from Tumbatu, East Africa (Lampert). 



REMARKS. This seems to be a very well characterized species, of which, 

 however, only a single specimen is as yet known. The remarkably large (210- 

 266/i*), straight rods confined to the ambulacra, and the very numerous polian 

 vessels are striking features. 



