Isostichopus badionotus (Selenka, 1867)

Figure 7, Table 5

Stichopus badionotus Selenka, 1867: 316; Deichmann, 1930: 80; 1940: 195; 1954: 388; Clark, 1933: 109; Ancona- Lopez, 1958: 11; Tommasi, 1957: 41; Cherbonnier, 1959: 440; 1975: 631; Brito, 1960: 4; 1962: 4; Tommasi, 1960: 603; Caso, 1961: 357.

Isostichopus badionotus .― Deichmann, 1958: 280; 1963: 106; Tommasi, 1969: 5; 1972: 18; Pawson, 1976: 373; Caycedo, 1978: 159; Hendler et al., 1995: 280; Cutress, 1996: 105; Xavier, 2010: 75; Oliveira et al., 2010: 12; Miranda et al., 2012: 141.

Material examined. Reefs at Francês Beach, Marechal Deodoro, AL, Brazil, 1 spec. (UFPB.ECH-2144); Chapeirão at southern tip of Lixa Reef, Abrolhos, BA, Brazil, 1 spec. (UFPB.ECH-1987); 1 spec. (UFPB.ECH- 2137); Vigilante, Lixa Reef, Abrolhos, BA, Brazil, 1 spec. (UFPB.ECH-2146); Southeast of Santa Bárbara Island, Archipelago of Abrolhos, BA, Brazil, 1 spec. (EQMN-366).

Type locality. Florida (Selenka 1867).

Diagnosis. See Pawson et al. (2010: 35).

Description. 5 specimens analyzed, measuring between 70–180 mm long and 25–65 mm wide. Body elongate, robust, flattened ventrally (Fig. 7 A). Mouth and anus ventral. Presence of 15 peltate tentacles, with a row of about 50 papillae, the smaller ventral (Fig. 7 B). Tube feet ventral, arranged into 2 series of five rows laterally and middle series of eight to ten rows. In dorsal side various large papillae grouped into 2 series of four rows. Body color varies among different tonalities of brown on lateral and ventral side, with dark to yellow spots dorsally (Fig. 7 C). Calcareous ring simple, radial plates square-shaped, 3 mm high and 2 mm wide, posterior margin with two short posterior projections. Short interradial plates, 2 mm high and wide. Plates with different sizes along the ring, dorsal side larger than ventral side (Fig. 7 D). Longitudinal muscles well developed. Respiratory trees very branched, but not reaching anterior part. Gonads grouped into 2 tufts, elongated, thick, divided at least once, not filling the coelom. Body wall with tables, disc smooth, 40–60 Μm in diameter and about 40 Μm high, with a large central hole and 10–12 marginal holes (Fig. 7 E), spire of 4 pillars ending in about 18 teeth. Rods “C”-shaped (Fig. 7 F), about 140 Μm long. Tube feet with endplate, 250 Μm in diameter (Fig. 7 H); rods straights, and numerous perforated rods, about 200 Μm long (Fig. 7 G). Tentacles with curved rods. Ossicles from ventral side slightly larger than from dorsal side (Tab. 5).

Geographical distribution. United States (South Carolina, Florida, Texas), Mexico, Belize, Panama, Antilles, Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil (Alagoas, Bahia, Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo) and West Africa, up to 70 m deep (Hendler et al. 1995).

Comments. The relative size of the “C”-shaped ossicles varies considerably within the species. This is one of the characters that distinguishes Isostichopus badionotus from Isostichopus macroparentheses (Clark 1922) . It differs mainly in the large “C”-shaped ossicles. Cutress (1996) showed that the species of Clark falls within the variability of I. badionotus, suggesting the necessity of a taxonomic revision of these two species. The color of I. badionotus varies a lot according to Borrero-Pérez et al. (2012). Orange, yellow, violet, brown and red tones are common. According to Pawson et al. (2010), a common color is light brown with dark brown spots, giving its name of chocolate sea-cucumber. Along the Brazilian coast the color varies from yellow bodies with brown or black spots, to brown bodies with yellow papillae and black spots. Lima et al. (2003) related the stages of gametogenesis with the morphology of gonodal tubules to verify the tubule recruitment model, and showed that the pattern of progressive recruitment does not necessarily depend on time; it can vary from species to species. Isostichopus badionotus is considered an endangered species, with extinction along the Brazilian coast, due, among other factors, to its fishing for countries that consume holothurians (Amaral et al. 2008). In the Caribbean this is one of the most important species commercially. Miceli et al. (2005) provided a preliminary study on the estimated stocks of I. badionotus and indicated areas with higher density around Ilha Grande, Rio de Janeiro State. More studies are necessary to evaluate stocks and to propose strategies for its conservation (Borrero-Pérez et al. 2012).

Ecological note. Sand/mud, coral reefs and above banks of macroalgae.