OUK KNOWLEDGE OF NEW ZEALAND HOLOTHURIANS. 97 



The dorsal papillae are supported by stout curved rods, with either simple 

 or branching extremities. 



We follow Ludwig in including Holotlmr'ia Eobsoni, Hutton, in this 



species. 



Stichopus simulans, sp. n. (Plate 11. fig. 5.) 



1897. Stichopus mollis, Dendy {pars), Journ. Linn. Soc, Zool. -vol. xx^i. p. 48. 



A single specimen of this species was briefly described by one of us under 

 the heading of Stichopus mollis. As we have now obtained another example, 

 possessing the dichotomously foliaceous spicules, from Resolution Island, we 

 feel justified in proposing a new specific name. . ; 



In the specimen now before us the body is rounded at both ends and 

 exhibits pronounced dorsal and ventral surfaces, the latter being much 

 narrower than the former. The specimen is 3*5 cms. in length and 1*9 cms. 

 in greatest breadth. The integument is very much contracted and folded. 

 The colour is brown on the dorsal surface and pale brown on the ventral ; in 

 addition, pale streaks occur on both lateral surfaces. Four bands of very 

 large papillae, each terminating in a sucker, run along the dorsal surface, 

 these papillae reaching as much as 0*7 cm. in diameter in the contracted 

 state. 



In its present condition the ventral surface is deeply corrugated trans- 

 versely. A dirty-white stripe runs down the mid-ventral line, and brown 

 spots are sparingly scattered over the pale brown bacliground of this surface. 

 Tube-feet appear to be quite absent from the ventral surface. 



There are twenty bushy tentacles, of approximately equal size, arranged 

 round the ventrally situated mouth. Surrounding the buccal depression, 

 which contains the retracted tentacles, is a complete circle of the large 

 conical papillae ending in suckers. 



The anus, as usual, is a round aperture at the posterior end of the body. 

 The body-wall is very thick and tough, resembling that of S. mollis, and 

 the spicules in it are confined to the outer portion. Of these there are two 

 kinds : — 



(i) Large numbers of the characteristic tables, which have the spire 

 supported by four rods, these rods being united by two diagonal 

 cross-bars about halfway up from the base (PI. 11. fig. 5 a). 

 These are identical both in form and size with those of S. mollis. 

 (ii) Large numbers of the small spicules (about "03 mm. in length) which 

 have been described as dichotomously foliaceous in form (fig. 5 b). 

 These occur most abundantly in the depressions of the surface, 

 where they form an almost continuous layer. They form such 

 a definite character that there can be no doubt about the specific 

 distinctness of this form. 



