The Bathyal Holothurians of the New Zealand Region

[Introduction]

Diagnosis: Tentacles simple, digitate or pinnate, retractor muscles, tubefeet and respiratory trees absent. Body vermiform. Calcareous deposits include anchors, anchor plates, wheels and sigmoid rods; sometimes absent.

Remarks: Although the Order Apodida is of cosmopolitan distribution, very few species are found in bathyal depths, and the great majority are littoral forms.