Trochodota Ludwig, 1891

O’Loughlin, P. Mark, 2007, New apodid species from southern Australia (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea: Apodida), Memoirs of Museum Victoria 64, pp. 53-70 : 62

Trochodota Ludwig, 1891

Figures 2b, 3c–f, 8, 9

Diagnosis (as emended by Rowe, 1976). Chiridotid genus with wheels and sigmoid ossicles present scattered or in groups, wheels with serrations on the inner margin in well defined groups; tentacles 10.

Species in southern Australia. Trochodota allani ( Joshua, 1912) ; T. epiphyka O’Loughlin sp. nov.; T. shepherdi Rowe, 1976 .

Remarks. An abundance of T. allani (Joshua) material from southern Australia, including the types, is present in the collections of Museum Victoria and was available for comparative examination. Rowe (1995) reported T. shepherdi Rowe as known only from South Australia (the Gulfs and Kangaroo I.). Museum Victoria holds specimens from eastern Victoria (Nooramunga, NMV F82694 (3); Corner Inlet, F82704 (5)) and South Australia (Port Lincoln, 15 m, F82703 (1)). No specimens of T. shepherdi have been found on the thoroughly examined coast between Wilsons Promontory (Victoria) and the Gulfs (South Australia). In addition to the form of the wheel ossicles, T.allani and T.shepherdi are similar in each having: tentacle rods with denticulations on the sides, variable in form from low papillate to columnar to flared or bifurcate distally, often with a small apical spinelet; 3 series of ciliated funnels, in the dorsal, left lateral and right ventral interradii; spinelets on the outer curved side of hook ossicles, more evident in T. shepherdi .

Rowe (1976) emended the diagnosis of Trochodota Ludwig, 1891 . Subsequently Rowe (1995) discussed in detail the uncertain validity of the generic name Trochodota . Smirnov (1997) rejected the emended diagnosis of Trochodota by Rowe (1976), without reference to the uncertain validity of Trochodota raised by Rowe (1995). Smirnov (1997) reverted to the diagnosis of Trochodota by H. L. Clark (1921), while recognizing that “Clark’s system itself needs revision”. Rowe (pers. comm.) indicates that he disagrees with Smirnov (1997) on the identification of the type species of Trochodota , namely Chirodota studerii Théel, 1886 , sensu Ludwig, 1891 = Holothuria (Fistularia) purpurea Lesson, 1830 (not Théel, 1886 = Taeniogyrus contortus Ludwig, 1874 ) (subsequent designation by Rowe, 1995). Resolution of these issues will be undertaken elsewhere, and the emended diagnosis of Trochodota by Rowe (1976) is followed here.