Holothuria (Platyperona)

Rowe, 1969

4 species

Medium sized forms, with 20 large ventral tentacles, and numerous cylindrical tube feet on the ventral side, the dorsal side with scattered low papillae, often placed on low warts. Anus terminal with calcified papillae; with skin scraped off, these papillae simulate anal teeth. Cuvierian organs large. Spicules an external layer of crowded tables with well developed disc having a varying number of holes and round to squarish in outline; spire low squat, with a single cross beam and many short spines on the top. An inner layer of large thin buttons, oval or slightly S-shaped, with two rows of comparatively small holes. Ventral feet with large end plate and numerous large plates, more or less symmetrically developed with numerous holes; dorsal appendages with reduced end plate or none, and more simple rods. (Deichmann, 1958, for Microthele)

Tentacles 18-20; pedicels crowded, irregularly arranged except in the smaller individuals where they appear to be arranged in three distinct bands on the flattened ventral surface, papillae small, irregularly arranged on the arched dorsal side, a distinct collar of papillae around the base of the tentacles; body all soft not very thick, usually 1-2 (1-5) mm; body with a distinct flattened ventral sole, arched dorsally; size small to moderate, up to 200 mm; calcareous ring stout, radial plates about twice as long as the interradial plates; spicules consisting of well developed tables, the disc smooth round and flat, with a varying number of peripheral holes, spire of moderate height, ending in several spines, the buttons oval, thin, flat, very rarely with a few median knobs, an apparent median longitudinal ridge is apparent, three to six pairs of relatively small holes. (Rowe, 1969)