TAXONOMIC STUDIES ON THE SPECIES OF HOLOTHURIA LINNAEUS, 1767 FROM THE SEAS AROUND INDIA ' Part 2
2 D.B. JAMES
(With a pLate and two text-f igures) rCo milll/cd from Vo l. 92(1) ;. 62J
Holothuria (Mertensiothuria) leucospilota from littoral waters, less than a metre in depth. (Brandt) Description: Large and snake-like fonns with (PI. 2, A; Fig. 3, A-C) leathery skin . The pedicels are large with well Sric!wl){/s (Gymlwe/I;mra) lem;ospilo/(/ Brandt. 1835. p. developcd sucking di scs. The tentacles are 20 in 5 1. number and are ventrall y placed. There is a well H% rh uria V(lK(lbun dli Be ll . 188 6, p. 2R: Me rg ui Archipelago: Bell , 18873, p. 140: Andarnan Island: Bell . 1888. developed te ntacular collar with a fimbriated p.389: Tuticorin (Gulf of Mann ar): Thu rston, 1894, p. 11 5: margin, Tuticorin (G ulf of M::mnar); Pearson. 1903, p. 20 [: Ceylon (Sri In the calcareous ring each radial is large and L'lnka); Koch1er& Yaney, 1908. p. 17 : And uman Island; Lnccadivcs has a deep groove while the interradial is a short, (Lakshadweep). H%lJlllria lelU.:o.tpii01l1 A.M. Clark & Dav ies. 1966, stump-like projection, There is a single pol ian p.603: Maldi ves; James, 1969, p. 62: Gulf of Mannar. Arabian vesicle and a single stone canal. The respiratory Sea, Andamans, Lnccadi ves (Lakshndweep); James. 1982, p. 5; trees are well developed, Cuvierian tubules arc also Tikadcr & Das, [985, p. 99: Andaman & Nicobar Islands : James, we ll developed. 1987. p. 11 0: Hut Bay (lillie Andamans). HolorJlIlria (Merlem:iotllllr;a) lelf(:ospi/Olll James, 1982. The spi cules (Fig. 3, A-C) consist o f an p. 92: Goa (West coa.<; to rlnJia); Soota, Mukhopadhyay & Samanla. external layer of tabl es with complete or incomplete 1983, p. 5 11 : Tlinkel. N,lnl:owry H. arbour, Sound Island (Andamnn di scs often reduced to four holes, one at the base of & Nicobar Islands); Mukhopadhyay & Samanla, 1983. p. 305: each pillar. Spire is low and often partly rcduced, Lakshadwet!p; Price & Reid, 1985, p. 4: Galle (S ri Lanka): James, 19800, p. 585: Lakshadweep-Maldives. Sri Lanka, Gul forMannar hut when complete, it ends in a tlattened crown of - Palk Bay, Andarnan-Nicobar Islands: James. 1989b. p. 127: eight or twelve teeth . Inner layer consists of regular Chctlal. Kilian. Kadrnat, Amini, Androlh , Kavarani, Minicoy six holed buttons. The buttons may sometimes be (Lahhadweep). asymmetrical. Peoicel s are with large end plates and Material: Tuticorin (GulfofMannar), several a few broad perforated plates with more or less slit spec im ens; Kilakarai , one specim en;" Vi zhinjam like holes. The bultons (Fig. 3, B) in a specimen (Arabian Sea), two specimens; Karwar (West Coast), collected from Kilakarai (Gulf of MannaI') were one specimen; Ra lnagiri (Arabian Se a), one mostl y incomplete and have a dumb-bell shape with specimen; Port Bla ir (Andamans), several a pair of holes at either end . They were in the spec im ens; Hut Bay (Little Andamans), several process of breakdown. The length of the buttons specimens; Chellal, several specimens; Kiltan, varies from 0.050 mOl to 0.063 mm, and the breadth several specimens; Kadmat. four specimens; Amini, varies from 0.025 mm to 0.033 ml11 . The height of several specimens; Kavaralti , lhree specimens; the table is c. 0.042 mm and the diameter or the Minicoy, fi ve specim ens (Lakshadweep), all di sc varied from 0.037 mm to 0.054 mm. specimens collected from the intertidal region or When alive, the colour is reddish-brown but
I Accepted October 1992. looks black on contraction. !Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute. Koehi 68203 1. Notes on habits: The species has the peculiar Preseflf Address: Tuticorin Research Centre ofCMFH I, 90 North Beach Road, Tuticorin 628 00 I, habit of tucking its posterior end under a stone. The TAXONOMIC STUDIES ON1'I-1f;; SPECIES OF HOLOTHURIA 191 anterior end which prujects out from the slone keeps 3 mOl); body almost cylindrical but with more or on moving with the ventrally directed tenacles. less di ~ tin ct, ' rJHll e ned ' 'sole'; size small to Specimens were sometimes found under coral moderate up to 150 mill long; calcareous ring fairly stones. On being disturbed the animal throws out stout, radial plates ahout twice <1'; long as the the cuvierian tubulcs which arc abundant. At Hut interradial plates; spicules consisting of clumsy Bay (Little Andamans) during February, 1977 in tables, the s pire low to mouerate and usuall y some places as many as 5 to 6 were di stributed per tcrminating in a ring or cluster of spines, disc well square metre. II was also found 10 he common on developed and spinose, rarely some tabl es with the pearl oyster beds offTuticorill. smooth· rimmed di sc also present, rim onen turned Remarks: Both the species HO/()f/Iltria up to give a 'cup and saucer' appcarance to the table (Halodeima) atra and Ho{or/wria (Merlensio/hlfl';o) in Imeral vi ew, pseudobuttons abundant, usuall y Jellcospilofa arc black and occur together at some smoolh , sometimes spinose, usually irregular in places. However, they can be separated in the field outline and oftcn rcduced to single row of three or by the followin g differences. Holothuria four holes, occasionally quite regular buttons arc (HaJodeil7la) (ltra is free from cuvierian tubules present, with lhree pairs of holes. whereas the other species has plenty or them. The Type-species: Ho{orhllrin pardalis Selcnku, former, when handled in the field , releases a toxin 1867; designated by Deiehmann, 1958:295. known as holothurin which is red in colour, whereas Six species are included under this suhgenus. in the latter species the red toxin is abscnt.ln some Only one species is known from the Indian sea~. places, Holothuria (Hafodeima) atm is covercd by Holothuria (Lessonothuria) pardalis Selcnka a coating of finc sand, whereas in Hnlofhltria (Fig. 3, D & E) (MerrellsiOfhuria) leucospifota sand nevcr covers the body. Finally the former species lies full y H%fllllri(lIWrdo/i5 Sdenk
B 0 . 05 HM . • I
E a MM D 0 .1 Mill F
Fig . .1. Spicules of: A-C. HaIO/IIJI!"i" (Merft'llsiofimrill) "'/1, " .1/11/0111- A. Spicules from Ihc body wall; B. Spicules in lhe rrnCl'~" of breakdown: C. Spicules from lubefccl; D. Hoffn/tllria (Ll'.H(Jl/Ofllllritl) pard(l'iJ; E. Radial and intefl large pedicels which are thinly distributed. There mer, but in recent years thi s is not preferred by is no regular arrangement either for the pedicels or buyers. papillae. Subgenus Metriatyla Rowe, 1969 Spicules (Fig. 4, A) consist of buttons, tabl es Diagnosis: Tentacles 20; pedicels irregularly and supporting plates. The buttons are eilher arranged on the flattened ventral 'sole', papillae knobbed or smooth. Very small buttons are smooth. usually quite large and conical and irregularly Generally there are three pairs of holes for each arranged dorsally, a lateral flange of papillae button. Sometimes the middle hole is larger than sometimes evident, a 'collar' of papillae around the the ather two. Very rarely, some buttons are smooth. base of th e tentacles often present, anal papillae The length of the buttons varies from 0.035 mm to variously developed; body wall usually quite thin , 0.066 mm, and the breadth from 0.024 mm to 0.038 about 2 (1 -5) mm thick, and gritty to the touch; mm. The tables have short spires and broad discs. body is usually Il attened ventrally, arched dorsally ; Generally there are 8 to 10 peripheral holes which size s mall to moderate, up to 200 mm long; are oval in shape. At the centre of the spire, there is calcareous ring quite well developed with radial a single hole. The top of the spire ends in an plates up to three times as long as the interradials; expanded rectangle which has spinous margins. spicules consisting of well-developed tables with There is a single cross-bar for each table. The height smooth disc and spire either of moderate height or of each table is 0.07 mm. The diameter of the discs high. tenninating in a few La many small spines, varies from 0.071 mm to 0.085 mm. The papillae tables rarely absent, buttons simple, with moderate have long tables which have irregular discs with sized irregularly arranged knobs and three to ten numerous holes. The spire has two to four holes pairs of relatively large holes. and two to three cross beams. The tip of the spire of Type·species: Holothuria scabra Jaeger, these tables is blunt. The height of the tables varies 1833:23; designated by Rowe, 1969: 160. Nine from 0.2 1 mm to 0.026 mOl , and width varies from spec ies are included under this SUbgenus. Four 0.12 mm to 0.28 mm. The supporting plates are species are known from the seas around India. One numerous and common among the calcareous species has been collected and presented in this deposits of this spccies. work. The supporting plates are large and most of K EY TO THE INDIAN SPECIES OF THE SUI3GENUS them are elongated, while a few are short and broad. Each of them has a number of holes. Generally, the J. Tables high. with up to seven cro~~ piecc:s .. tables at the centre are larger than those at either ...... H. (Merriary{aj l//(II"rellsi Semper, J 868 I '. Tables or moderate hcight...... 2 end. The length of the supporting plates varies from 2. Tables terminate in a large mass of spines .. 0.10 mm to 0.28 mm, and breadth from 0.047 mm ...... H. (Merriat)'/aj a/biventer Semper, 1868 to 0.141 mm. 2'. Tables terminate in a l'cw small spi nes ...... 3 3. Dorsal side of the body usually with light ye ll ow cross bands In the living condition, light brown with white ...... H. (Metrimyla) .tcabra Jaeger, 1833 markings. The ventral side is pater in colour. 3'. Dorsal side of the body with round markings .... Distribution: The distribution of this species ...... H. (Merriaryla) acel/ara Jae~,er . 1833 is restricted. It is known from the Red Sea, Persian Holothuria (Metriatyla) scabra Jaeger Gulf, Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay, Sri Lanka, (PI. 2, C; Fig. 4, B & C) North Australia, Philippines and China. H%rlwI";a scabraJaeger. 1833, p. 23: East Indi e..<;: Ludwig, Remarks: Eadier, this was one of the two 1887, p. 1224: Ceylon (Sri Lanka); Koehler & Ya ney, 1908, p. 16: species commercially processed trom the Gulf of Andaman Islands. Mergui Archipelago; Pearson, 1910, p. 193: Mergui Archi pelago; Gravely. 1927, p. 165: Gulfof Mannar. James, Mannar and Palk Bay. Hornell (1917) wrote that 1969, p. 61: Gulf ofManllar. Gulf of Kutch; James, 1973, p. 710: this species has a very high value for Beche-de- Gulf of Mannar & Palk Bay; Satyamurti, 1976, p.53: Krllsadai J. BOMBAV "AT. HIST. SOC. Y2 James: Holothllria P, .ATE 2 ... ,. " A. Halo/III//'io (MertCIIs;orhur;a) lellcos/ll1ofa (ill situ); B. H % tlillria (Thee/oi/Illria) s{Jill~rf!/"(/; C. I-fo!otlllfria (lli!elrilily/a) sc{/!;m; D. Holorllllria (Micro/he/e) lIobi//!,. TAXONOMIC STUDI!:.:S ON 1HE SPECIES OF HOLOTHUR IA 197 Island (Gulf of~\' klOnar ); Jamc ... 197H. p. 60: Palk Ray: Parulekar. with five pairs or holes in addition to a single hole 19S I, p. 33: Malvan; James, 19X2, p. 5: James. 1983:1. p. 94: James. at each end. All huttons are knobbed. In addition 10 19 S~h. p. X5: Mayabundcr. Diglipur(Andarn:ms): Tikadcr & Das. 1985. p. 99: Andaman 8:. Nieohar Islands: Rao el al.. 19R.'i. p. 89: the bultons. there are also irregular perforated platcs. Gulf of Mannar & Palk Bay: Jame.'. 1987. p. 11 2: Diglipur & The tc.shles arc short and the margins arc not quite MaYJbundcr(Andam:lIls). round. Eaeh table has a few to many holes.' The H(lior/Ilfria clIdl'l/i Bdl. 1887a. p. 144: Andam:m Isl::1.1ul: tahles <.Ire short with a horizontal cross har and a Daniel & Halder. 1974. p. 41~: Andamans. crown of spines at the top, which are visible in lateral H(J/orllllria glil/ellsis Pt!afson. 19W. p. 20~' Ceylon (S ri Lanka). view. In the apical view, eight outwardly pointed Ho/mllllrill (M('ltilUyJII) s('lIhw Mary Rai. 1980. p. 15: spines are seen. In large specimens (Fig. 4. C), the S()(){a. el til. 1983, p. 51 2: Andarnans: James. 19863. p. 585: tables are s hort with a l:entral hole and eight Lakshadwet!p-Maldivc ... Sri Lanka. Gulf of Mann:!r & Palk Hay: James. 19X6b. p. 2: Gulf of Mannar & Palk H.:lY. Andamans. Gulf peripheral holes. The spire consists of four vertical of Kutch: James, 1989b. p. 6: Andalllans, Gulfof Mannar & P.,lk hal'S which lcnninate in a few spines. There is a LieI' Bay: James. 1991. p. 651. of cross bars in the spire. fill/mIll/rill (Mt'lrialY/II ) oed/afo Mukhopadhyay, 19~1:'\. The hullons are small and have generillly lhree p. 6: GulfofMannar(NolI J:acger. 18D. p. 19). pairs of holes. The pediccls have small lemlinal HolorllU";a (CysliJ'IfS) riJ,:ida Mukhopadhyay, 19S ~L p. 7: Kms:adni. Pamhan. Mantiap:JJll Cimp. Ved:Jlai. (Gulfof oJ'Mannar) plates. (Non H. smrba Jaeger. 1833. p. 19. Colour in the living condition is grey to hlack Material: Diglipur (North Andamans). on the dorsal side, and white ventrally. Generally. several specimens; Rangat (Middle Andamans), smaller specimens are lOtally blal:k and larger several specimens: Port Blair (South Andamans), specimens have a number of irregular yellow several specimens; Mandapam (Gulf or MannaI' & transverse hands on the dorsal side. One specimen Palk Bay). several specimens; Tliticorin (Gulf of was brown. Mannar). several specimens; Jamnagar (Gulf or Notes on habits: This species is characteristic Kutch), two specimens, all specimens collected from ofrnuddy-sandy regions. and prefers less saline waters. the iOlertidal to 5 metres depth. During low tide. a number of them can be seen half Description: The specimens examined varied buried as the posterior end of the body is always kept in length from 30 111m to 400 111m. !he hody is robust outside. Small forms (50 mm to 90 mOl in length) are with both the ends blunt The dorsal side is convex seen to lie freely on the muddy ground during low and the ventral s ide is Ilat. The s kin in large tide. At some places there are 2-10 juveniles specimens (300-400 mm length) is very thick ( lO- distributed in an area of five square metres. It occurs 15 mm) and slimy to touch. On the dorsal side, there from the intertidal region to 10 metres depth, hUl is are many small papillae which arc mainly scattered mostly distributed at depths of 1-5 metres. and often inconspicuolls. On the ventral side the A pea crab Pinnor/1 eres deccanellsis lives pediccls are densely distributed without any inside the cloaca. James (MS) has presented a arrangement Each dark spot on the ventral side detailed account on the hilbils of the association. represents one pedicel. Chopra (1932) reported the OCCLIrrence of this crab There are two large polian vesicles and a inside the same species of holoLhurian from the single slone canal. The calcareous ring is oflhe usual Andamans. Jones and Mahadevan (1965) gave an type. The left respiratory tree is much larger than account of this association from the Gulf of Mannar. the right. The paired radial muscles are not in finn I h'lvc.collected two gastropod parasites contact with the body wall. Proslilifer sp. from. thi s species. It appears to be The spicules consist of tables and buttons. very rare and fonns a gall in the body wall. Only They cliffeI' remarkably in smaller (50 mm in length) the tip of the shell is seen outside, and when it is and larger (200-350 mm in le ngth). Smaller lOuched it is withdrawn. [n each gall, only one specimens have buttons (Fig. 4, B), which (Ire large specimen is found. The parasite is firmly entrenched 198 JOURNAL. BOMBAY NATURAI.fUST. SOCIETY. Vi,/. 92(1995) a o O·lMM ~e ~~ o O .l/Io1M I • Fig. 4. Spicules of: A. HoIOl/lllri{/ (TfJeelorlwrill) spill!feru; B. f/O/O/I/I/fill (Mcfri(l(y/a) Jmhm (fromjuvcnik); C. flolot/m,.;u (Me/rimy/ll) scabm (from adul!): D. Holmflllf;(l (Micro/Jude) I/obi/i.i. -mXONOMIC STUDIES ONTIIESPEW;S OF HOLOTHURIA 199 in the body wall, and can be taken QuI only by cUlling papillae may be e mirely hlc king; body wall very 'he body wall. Waren ( 1983) reported P. thick, usually 5 (5- 10 !TIm ); body rathercylindrieal; sllbpel/l/cida from the hody wall or Bohad.w.:hi(1 size large or even massive, up to 600 mm long; aigtl.\' rrom ~he Pacilic. Usually a male and a female calcareous ring massive, with distinctly scalloped are found together in [he same gall. ant e rior margi n, radial and interradia l p lates At Port Blair (Andamans) during February, squarish. the radials being about twice the length 1978 a total of 462 juvcn il cs ranging in length from of the interradials; spiculcs consisting of stout, \).,!cll 65 mm, to 160 mm were col lected from the intertidal developed tables with smooth squarish disc, spire region "at South Point. These we re transferred LO an of moderate height, terminating in many small enclosed place for further growth. After six months, spines, buttons usually always hollow fenestrated th ey had grown to a good si7.e. ellipsoids though a few simple huttons may be Remarks: It is surprising that Pearson (1"903) present. describes thi s well known species as a new spec ies Type·species: Holofllllria ( M etria/yilt) Holothuria gallel1sis from Sri Lanka. This is the maclI/ata Brandt, 1835: 54 = Muelleria nobilis most valuable species for processing from India. Selenka, 1867; designated by A.M. Clark & F.W.E. Fresh specimens cost Rs. 30-50 depe nding on size Rowe, 1967: I (0). AI present, only one species is and processed materi Radials are twice the length of the interradials. mentioned above. Surprisingly, it is not the Tentacular ampullae are very large. ubiquitous holothurian Holothttria (Halodeima) Spicules (Fig. 4, D) consist of tablcs and alra of the Indian Seas. This spec ics needs algal buttons. The tables arc robust with smooth discs beds for its existence and is found to feed extensively and the spires tenninate in 15-20 small spines. The on the calcareous alga Halimeda sp. Of the 18 diametcr of the table varies from 0.06 mm to O.OR species, 13 wcrc collected from Lakshadweep, 6 mm. The di sc or th e tables is either irregularly from the West Coast of India, 2 trom the East Coast rounded or square-shaped. The inner layer has of India and 17 from the Andaman and Nicobar closely packed hollow fenestrated ellipsoids which Islands. Holotlwria (TheeI01huria) spin~fe ra is not are 0.07 mm in length. They have four rows of holes. distributed in the Andaman and Nicohar Islands. A few simple knobbed buttons are also present. Lakshadweep and also on the west coast of India. It This species occurs in two colour ronns,.whitc has a restricted and discontinuous di stribution. and black. At Lakshadweep the colour pattern is as being known from the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, Gulf follows. The general colour is black on the dorsal of Mannar and Palk Ba y~ Sri Lanka, North side and white or yellowish white mottled with black Australia, Philippines and China. James (1983a) or brown on a white background. reported this species for the first time from Madras Notes on habits: The specics lies freely in (east coast of India). Holo thuria (Metriatyla) the lagoon in the adult stage and is often covered scabra, thc most valuablc species for Beche-de with a coating of sand. Young while forms live mer preparation fro m India is not distributed in among the algae. The white form is found in more Lakshadweep. James (1986a)' li sted H%tht/ria than 3 m depth of water. It occurs up to 30 metres (Metriatyla) scabra in th e Distributiona l Table depth. It is most aburtdant on clean sand among the under the region Lakshad weep-Maldives, based on reefs. The hlack f01l11 is found in shaIlow waters positive record of the specimens in the British from the reef to about a depth of 3 m. Museum (A.M . Clark and Rowe 197 1). A.M. Clark Remarks: The species is very valuable for and Spencer Davies ( 1966) state that Gardiner's beche-de-mer preparation. Though abundant in locality labels were removed while the collections Lakshadweep, it is not processed at present. The were still in Colombo and the Maldive specimens white fonn is said to be more valuable for processing were mixed up with others from Chagos than the black one. Archipelago, Seychelles, Amirantcs and Red Sea. Distribution: It is distributed in the Islands HolOlhu ria (Metrimyla) scabra coll ected from the of the Western Indian Ocean, Mascarene Islands, Red Sea, Seychelles or other locality would have Eas t Africa and Madagascar, Red Sea, been given the wrong locality label as Maldives. Lakshadweep, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Andamans, The papers published on th e Maldive echinoderms East Indics, North Australia, Philippines, China. and a collection of echinodenns from the Maldives South Pacific Islands and the Hawaiian Islands. examined by the author do not contain this species. To-day Beche-de-mer is a nourishing industry in ZoOGEOGRAPHY the Maldives. James and Ali Manikfan (1994) wrote The genus Holothuria is common and well a paper on the Beche-de-Iller industry of Maldives represented in the seas around India. Of the 18 in which no mention of the species is made. One of species of Holothuria coliec Led from the us (AM) examined large samples at Maldives and Lakshadweep, west coast of India, cast coast of could not find a single specimen. As a result of a India, Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay and the thorough survey, it is certain lhat it does not occur Andaman and Nicobar Islands, only one species at Lakshadwecp (James J989b, 1989c). The faunal namely Holothuria (Semperothuria) cillerasceflS composition of th e two regions is similar and was collected from all the five geographic locations therefore it is safe to conclude that the positive TAXONOMIC STUDIES ONTfiE SPECIES OF HOLOTHURIA 201 record from the British Museum is based on wrong As a result of my sludies, Ihe range of th e locality label. The east and west coasts of India are following species has been extended to the localities poorly represented by the genus Holothuria due to noted against them, lack of coral reefs. This excludes the Gulf ofMannar Holothuria (Selenkothuria) moebii- Arabian and Palk Bay and also the Gulf of Kutch. Intensive Sea; Holothuria (SeLenkothuria) erinaceus- Arabian collecti ons have not been made from the Gulf of Sea; Holothuria (Mertensiothuria) leucospiloTa Kutch. The distribution of the species of Hololhuria Arabian Sea~ Holothuria (Platyperona) difficilis from the five regions is given in Table 1. Lakshadweep; Holothuria (LessOIwthuria) pardalis Lakshadweep; Holothuria (Thymiosycia) arenicola T ABI.I~ I Lakshadweep; Holothuria (Thymiosycia) impatiens DISTRIB UTION OF THE SPEC IES OF HolOfJwria FROM INDIAN SEAS Lakshadweep; Holothuria (Cystiptls) rigida La kshadweep; Holothuri a (Mertensiothttria) Name of the spccies LK WC EC GM&PB A&N pervicax- UlksIn:lweep; Holothuria (Mertensiothuria) fuscocinerea- Andama n & Holothllrja Nicobar Islands; Holothuria (Merten.siothuria) (A cclf1tl/Or rap~z.a) I'yxi,f • Ho/orliltrill (Cy.nipus) pervicax- A ndaman & Nicobar Islands; Holothuria ri~i d(l + + (Cys/ipus) rigida- Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Holotfluria (HlI/O(/eiIlW ) alra + + + + Hu/o/flurjn ( HlI/ot/eima) HABITS OF DIFFERENT SPECIES eduli,l' + + + The species of the genus Holothuria Ii vc Holotllllria chiefl y among corals as rugitive forms, That is why (Le.wmmJwria) pl1rd(/li.~ • + • Ho/oIhurill • a good number of s pecies are coll ected rrorn (M ertellsiOlllllrill) Lakshadweep Islands, Gulf orMannar and Palk Bay fim;ocillerea + + and And aman and Nicobar Islands. Rowe ( 1969) Holmlwria (M erle1l.\'iorltllria) listed surf-zone species, fugiti ve species and leucospilo/(l + + • + fo ssorial species, In addition to these threeclivisions, H%t/mria therc are forms which li ve freely like Holo/huria (Men ell.l'iorlwria) pen'icax + + fl%f/Illria (Metria/yla) (Halodeima) atra, Holothuria (Halodeima) edulis of cahra + + + and Holothllria (Microthele) nobi/is. Table 2 li sts H%lllllrill (Micro/heJe) the species according to their habit. /lobili.\' + + H%tlmrill (PlatYl'cnmu) From the Table 2, it is seen that fu giti ve forms llijjicili,\' + • are maximum (8 nos,), followed by fassaria! forms HolO1ll11ria (Selenkofhuriu) (5 nos.), free living form s (3 nos.) and surf zone erilwcell,\' + Holo/huria (Seiellkorllllria) forms (2 nos.). It is a lso seen that all spec ies moehii + + + belonging to one subgenus do not exhibit the same Holm/wriel (Selllpuothllria) habit. The same species exhibits different habits at cin en/J c ell.~ + + + + + Nolofllllria (Theelo/hu'-;lI) different places. H. (Halodeinia) edlilis, which is a ,Ipillifera + + free li vin g form occurring below low-water mark Holo/III/l'ill (ThYllliosycill) in the Indian seas, is reported to li ve under s(Qnes arenico/a + + Hulothllri(l (T/zymiosycia) at Guam by Rowe and Doty ( 1977). H. /lilla + • + (Selenkothuria) erillacetl s, which is reported to be f/%/I!IIrill (ThymirJ,tycia) a surf zone species, is found to be fassarial at impatiens + + Andamans. burying complelely in mud. Similarly LK-Lak f.; hadweep; WC-west coast; EC -e a ~ t coast~GM & PB Gulfof H. (Th ymiosycia) arenicola which is li sted as Mannar & Palk Bay; A & N- Andaman & Nicobar Islands, fugitive species by Rowe ( 1969) is truly fossori al at 202 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURALHIST. SOCIETY. Vol. 91(1995) TABLE 2 LIST OF THE SPECIES UNDER THE GENUS Halo/lll/ricl ACCORDING TO THEIR HABITS Free living species Sutf zone species Fugitivespccics FossOI;al species H. (H.) arm H. (S.) J//oebii H.(r) irlll'miells H.(T) ClI't!!llico/a H. (H .) edl/li.~ H. (T) /iilla H.en .tl'illifera H. (M.)II(}bili.~ H .(S.)cil/ercucens H. (M·) I,en'imx H .(C.) ,.i/ofit/a H.( M) Jim..: ocillerea H.(M.) .<;I:ohm H. (M.) feuc;ospilofa H.(S.) eril/(lcellS H.(L) pardtllis H.(A.) pyxi.~ H. (P.) diflicili.~ 3 nos. 2 oos. 8 nos. 5 nos. Lakshadwecp. At times, H. (Mertensiothuria) H. (Microthele) 1l0bilis as fugitive forms. These leucospilota occurs along with H. (Halodeima) arra species were never encountered under stones in the as a free living species. H . (Merrellsiothuria) 1ndian Seas. leucospilota has the habit of tucking its posterior ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS end under rocks, whereas in case of H. I am grateful to Dr. S. Jones, former Director (Acallthotrapeza) pyxis the posterior end is firmly of CMFRJ for suggesting the problem and for his entrenched among rocks and it is impossible to pull guidance. J thank Dr. P.S.B.R. James, Former out specimens without damaging them. H. Director, CMFRI for his kind interest and (TheeLothuria) spinifera buries completely into encouragement. I also thank Miss A.M. Clark, sand, whereas H. (Metriatyla) scabra is partly formerly of the British Museum (Nalural History) buried and keeps the posterior end out of sand. Rowe for clarifying the the correct position of some of the (1969) has listed Holothuria (Halodeima) atra and species. RI-:t'Htl']'IIC FS ARNOW, D.C. (195~) : Ob.~crv:ltions on Campus aCIIS(Brumich), Pelropoli. J: 1-75. (Jugularis, Carapidae). Puhl. SIt!z. Zool. Napoli. 24: 153- CIIOI'RA. B. (1932): On some decapod crustacea found in the cloaca 167. of holOlhurians. Ret:. Illd. Mw. 33: 303-324. BAKUS, GJ. (1973): The Biology and Ecology of Tropicnl CLARK. A.M. & S.P. DAVIES (1966): Echinoderms of Maldives Holothurians. /n: O.A . Jones and R. Endean (eds. Biology 1 ~ lal1d s.AI/I/. M(f~ .lIar. Hist. (/3)8: 597-61 2. and Geology of Coral Reefs. Academic Press, Nt!w York. CLAIIK. A.M. & FW.E . Row,", (1967): The identity o flhe species '",1.2 (1): 325-%7. commonly known as H%tlwria IIImU/wria Lesson. 1830. BEl.! .• FJ. (1886): On the Holothurians of the Mergui Archipelago Z.N.(S.) 1793. Bull. 'loo/. Nowenc/. 24 (2): 126- 128. collected farthe Trustees oflhe Indinn Museum, Calcutta. Ci,AH K. A.M. & EW.E. ROWI ' (1971): Monograph ofshnllow-water by Dr. John Anderson. 1. Liml. SOl:, (Zoo/.) 20: 25·28. Indo-West Pacific eehinodenns. British MusculTl (Natural BEIJ .• FJ. (1887a): Report on acollectiOIl o f Echinodermat:l from History), London. Publication No. 690: 218 pp. the Andaman Island. Prof". zool. Soc. Limd. 1887: 139-145. CLARK. A.M. (1980): Echinoderms of Hong Kong. Proc. Fi rst BHJ .• FJ. (1887b): TIle Echinodenn fauna of the Islands of Ceylon. Imemational Marine Biological Wrokshop: 1'1le Mmine Flom Scient. Tram. R. Dubl. Soc 3(14): 643-658. and Fauna of Hong KongSouthem China. Hong Kong. (Eds. Bt-:1J., Fl. (1888): RcpOl1 on acolleclion of Echinoderms made::lt B.S . Morton and C.K. Tseng). University Pl'es~. Hong Kong. Tuticorin. Madras by Mr. E. Thurston.Proc. Zoot. So('. LIIII(I. CI.ARK. A.M. (1984): 5. Echinodermata of the Seychelles. Stoddm1. /988: 383-389. D.R. (cd.). Biogeography and ecology of the Seychelles *BIl.ANDT. J.F. (1835): Prodromus dcscliptionis :lnimaliurn a H. J ~ lalld s. 81- 102. Mertensio in orbi~ temllum cin:umnovigatione observatorum. OJN"A]'\O. C. ( 1990): The fi shery resoun.:c.<; of pacific i ~l:lO d counll;es. TAXONOi'-'lIC .~7Vf)'HS' ONTH[ SPECIES OF IIOLOTHURIA 20:1 P;\l1 2. Holothmians.. FA() Fi <:. hclic;;;TcchniC;l1 P Echinoderms of the Indian MtlSCllm. Calcutta: I-54. PRICE, A.R.G. ( 198 r): Studies on the echinoderm fauna of the * L F_';sol~, R.P. ( 1830): Centuric zoologique ou choix d'animuux western Arabian Gulf. JOj/l"IIlIl of Nall/ral Hi.wor)' 15: l rares, nouveaux d 'animaux r are~, no uveaux ou IS. impm1'uite rnent conn ue~. Prllis: [ -244. PI\ICI:. A.R.G. ( [ 982): Echinoderms of Saudi Arabia. Comparison L IAO, Y. (1975): The echinoderms of Xisha Islands I. Holothrioidea be tween Echinoderm faunas of Arabian Gulf, SE Arabia, Red Guangdong Province, China. Studiu Marilla Sillica 8 (10): Sea