Parastichopus

Clark, 1922

7 species

Synallactid-like forms with a cylindrical body. Mouth ventrally placed with broad tentacles, anus terminal, Dorsal sides with large conical papillae and smaller feet; ventral side with cylindrical tube feet arranged in bands. Spicules: tables and either buttons or rods. (Clark, 1922, suggestion, not firm diagnosis)

* Clark, 1922 says: "both the locality and the depth indicate this holothurian is not a true Stichopus and its apparent resemblance to species of that group is an interesting illustration of parallelism. With nigripunctatus of Japanese waters it may form a distinct genus, but the material at my disposal is not sufficient to warrant diagnosis. In any case however it may be called Parastichopus, and tremulus may be designated the genotype. (Clark, 1922, suggestion, not firm diagnosis)

* Clark, 1946, suggests that Parastichopus might better be placed with the Synallactids. (Clark, 1922, suggestion, not firm diagnosis)

Synallactid-like forms with cylindrical body. Mouth ventrally placed with broad tentacles, anus terminal. Dorsal side with large conical papillae and smaller feet; ventral side with cylindrical tube feet more or less distinctly arranged in bands. Spicules, tables and either buttons or rods (Smiley "and no C-shaped ossicles?"). There is no doubt that californicus and parvimensis should be removed from the tropical forms and it is proposed to extend the genus Parastichopus to include also these forms which are rather synallactine-like particularly in their younger stages. (Deichmann, 1937)