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Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science, Vol s2-64, 373-382, Copyright © 1920 by Company of Biologists
1 Professor of Zoology in the University of Cape Town
1. A medusa-like Holothurian has been found off the South African coasts.
2. It is devoid of external podia.
3. Podia are found embedded in the thick gelatinous epidermis, and are arranged in three groups in the form of--
(1) Arms or oral podia forming a hood-like structure over the mouth, and supplied from the dorsal and ventrolateral radial canals.
(2) Dorsal podia, which are slender and terminate in knobs.
(3) Lateral podia towards the posterior end of the body.
4. Tentacles are supplied by the circular canal.
5. The stone-canal is single, and opens to the exterior by a single opening.
6. Calcareous deposits do not appear to occur in any part of the body, except in the form of small knobbed spheres round the oesophagus.
7. Respiratory tree and Cuvierian organ absent.
8. Gonads in two grape-like masses, one on each side of the dorsal mesentery, and opening to the exterior by a long, slender duct. Mature ova .3 mm. in diameter, and provided with, oil-globules.
9. It cannot be placed, in any of the known groups of Holothurians, chiefly on account of the origin of the tentacles from the circular canal.
