Labidodemas Selenka, 1867

Massin, Claude, Samyn, Yves & Thandar, Ahmed, 2004, The genus Labidodemas (Holothuroidea: Aspidochirotida) revisited, with description of three new species and with re-positioning of Holothuria (Irenothuria) maccullochi Deichmann, 1958, Journal of Natural History 38 (14), pp. 1811-1847 : 1812

Genus Labidodemas Selenka, 1867

Emended diagnosis (after Deichmann, 1938: 363 and Rowe, 1969: 132).

[Type species: Labidodemas semperianum Selenka, 1867 ; by monotypy].

Size medium to moderate (100–200 mm long); body has two distinct morphotypes: vermiform or more cylindrical; ventral tube feet mainly in ambulacral areas, in one to four rows (sometimes also spread into the interambulacral areas); dorsal papillae and tube feet in ambulacral and often also in interambulacral areas, or absent altogether; anal papillae present or absent. Species fugitive to fossorial, with thin body wall and 20 tentacles. Tentacle ampullae short (1/12 to 1/100 of body length). Calcareous ring with massive radial pieces and narrow ribbon-like interradial pieces. Body wall ossicles consist of variously developed tables, either with disc reduced and spire low, ending in a cluster of firm, often clavate, spines frequently longer than radius of table disc, or with disc well developed and with low to moderate spire ending in a cluster of firm spines or a wide, centrally perforated crown; buttons (when present), usually with rim smooth to slightly knobbed, some buttons spiny, often irregular and incompletely formed; in most cases minute, occasionally perforate, branching or curved rods also present. Tube feet ossicles similar to those of body wall, with in addition rounded perforated plates. Tentacles always with smooth to slightly spiny rods. Longitudinal, transversal and cloacal retractor muscles devoid of ossicles. Cuvierian tubules present or absent.