Holothuria (Semperothuria) surinamensis Ludwig, 1875

Pawson, David L., Pawson, Doris J. & King, Rachael A., 2010, A taxonomic guide to the Echinodermata of the South Atlantic Bight, USA: 1. Sea cucumbers (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea), Zootaxa 2449, pp. 1-48 : 38

Holothuria (Semperothuria) surinamensis Ludwig, 1875

Figure 31

Holothuria (Semperothuria) surinamensis .— Hendler et al. 1995: 294, figs 166, 185D,E,F; Cutress 1996: 70.

Material examined. USNM 16640, S.C., Charleston, March, 1880, 2. USNM 16689, S.C., Blackfish Bank, off Charleston, March 1880. USNM E29353 , off Georgia, 31°41’06”N, 80°20’ 36”W, R/VOregon, Sta MS02, March 9, 1981, 28m. USNM E32248, off Georgia, 31°40’54”N, 80°20’42”W, R/VOregon, Sta MS02, April 29, 1981, 27m. SERTC 2205, off Ferry Island, Bermuda, 32º21.8'N, 64º42.8'W, coll. GML Staff, April 4 1972.

Diagnosis. Large, burrowing form, up to 200 mm. Color in life light yellow to dark brown. Body cylindrical. Podia few, scattered, papillate dorsally, cylindrical ventrally, Cuvierian organ absent. Ossicles consisting of tables (35–40 μm) with reduced discs, and large flat rods (up to 400 μm), no buttons.

Distribution. SC, E and W FL, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, Bermuda.

Habitat. Usually near shore, sand and shell bottoms, shallow flats, beneath rocks, in seagrass beds. 0– 42 m.

Remarks. This thin-skinned species can be extremely common in its preferred habitats.

Figures

FIGURE 31. Holothuria (Semperothuria) surinamensis Ludwig, 1875. A, whole animal; B, C, D, tables in lateral and top view.