Paracolochirus mysticus ( Deichmann 1930 )

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 : 18-19

Paracolochirus mysticus ( Deichmann 1930)

Figure 11

Pseudocolochirus mysticus Deichmann, 1930: 182 , pl.21 figs.7–9.

Material examined. USNM E16247, S.C., 32°42'N, 78°17'W, no date given, 165m, 7. USNM E2504, N.C., SE Cape Hatteras, 34°39’15”N, 75°33’30”W, R/V Albatross, Sta 2601, October 18, 1885, 195.7m, 11. USNM E43336, S.C., 32°43’39”N, 78°05’39”W, dive 78 July 5, 1993, 175– 196m, 4. SERTC S# 2214, mouth of Bread and Butter Creek, North Inlet, Georgetown, SC, 33º19.9'N, 79º11.2'W, coll. GML Staff, 2–4 m, January 25 1971. SERTC 2462, Murrells Inlet, SC, 33º30.9'N, 79º02.4'W, coll. D. Knott, May 10 1978. DML 1375, 34 º51.5'N, 75º24.2'W, R/V Eastward Sta E-56-65, October 27, 1965, 201 m. DML 4135, 33 º48.7'N, 76º34.2'W, R/V Dan Moore Sta 0S05, May 14, 1981, 102 m.

Diagnosis. Barrel-shaped, about 5 cm long. Color light tan to whitish, often with a pinkish tinge. Tentacles bushy, of equal size. Ventral feet ventrally in 3 distinct rows; toward oral and anal ends as few, scattered, broad and low papillae, with dark brown tips. Five dark brown anal papillae and 5 small calcareous anal teeth. Integument thick, fleshy, soft, almost devoid of ossicles, which are irregular 4-holed buttons (100 μm) with low knobs.

Distribution. NC to SC, Gulf of Mexico.

Habitat. Sand/mud. 18– 215 m.

Remarks. Little is known about the biology of this species, although it is obviously a suspension feeder, and presumably, given the nature of the substrate, a burrowing form.

Figures

FIGURE 11. Paracolochirus mysticus (Deichmann 1930). A, whole animal; B, ossicle from tube foot; C-E, irregular 4 - holed ossicles.