Caudinidae

Davey, Nicola & O’Loughlin, Mark, 2013, The caudinid sea cucumbers of New Zealand (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea: Molpadida: Caudinidae), Zootaxa 3613 (4), pp. 357-368 : 358

Key to New Zealand species of Caudinidae

1. Ossicles in tail numerous perforated tables with large multilocular discs and spire with predominantly 3 pillars (can be 2–4); ossicles rare or absent in mid-body wall.......................................... Hedingia glabra (Théel, 1886)

- Ossicles in mid-body wall and tail abundant closed knobbed cups with central crosses............................... 2

2. Ossicles closed knobbed cups with central cross predominantly regular and octagonal in form; most ossicles with a distinct crossed cup base and elevated upper open basal box......................................................... 3

- Ossicles closed knobbed cups with central cross that can be regular and octagonal, or irregular in form; some with a distinct crossed cup base and rare to absent upper open basal box...................................................... 4

3. Ossicles predominantly with discrete pointed marginal knobs; spaces within the ossicles open with their collective area not significantly smaller than the surface area of the ossicle........................... Paracaudina chilensis (Müller, 1850)

- Ossicles predominantly thick with either bulbous or completely lacking discrete marginal knobs; spaces within the ossicles reduced with their collective area significantly smaller than the surface area of the ossicle................................................................................................... Paracaudina coriacea (Hutton, 1872)

4. Ossicles with octagonal knobbed margin, uniform in size, and with regular octagonal form; basal cross superstructure reduced to small X or H-shaped........................................................ Paracaudina reductia sp. nov.

- Ossicles very irregular in size, form, thickness, presence or absence of marginal knobs.......... Paracaudina alta sp. nov.