Holothuria (Lessonothuria) insignis Ludwig, 1875

THANDAR, AHMED S., 2007, Additions to the aspidochirotid, molpadid and apodid holothuroids (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) from the east coast of southern Africa, with descriptions of new species, Zootaxa 1414 (1), pp. 1-62 : 16-17

Holothuria (Lessonothuria) insignis Ludwig, 1875

Figure 6

Holothuria insignis Ludwig, 1875:106 , p1.7, fig.28.

Holothuria pardalis var. insignis Sluiter, 1890:106 .

Holothuria pardalis H.L. Clark, 1923:423 (non H. pardalis Selenka, 1867 ).

Holothuria (Lessonothuria) insignis Rowe, 1969:149 (passim); Clark and Rowe, 1971:176 (distrib), 194 (note); Samyn, 2003:42 (passim).

Holothuria (Lessonothuria) pardalis Rowe & Gates, 1995:292 (partim);? Cherbonnier, 1988:117, fig.47;? Massin 1996a:19, figs. 12 & 13 (non H. pardalis Selenka, 1867 ).

Type Probably lost. Syntypes in ZMH , E.2573.

Type locality Bowen , Queensland .

Previous southern African record KZN or Mozambique (as H. pardalis by H.L. Clark 1923).

Material examined

UW Ecological Survey , Inhaca Island, Mozambique (no further data), 1 spec. ; SAM-A27926 , KZN, Park Rynie, K.S. Ganga, 9 iii 1981, rock pool, under stone, 1 spec. ; SAM-A27927 , Isipingo Beach, vii 1982, K.S. Ganga, 1 spec. (juvenile) ; SAM-A27928 , Vetch’s Pier, J. Maxwell, 9 iv 1982, 2– 3 m, under stone, 1 spec. ; SAM-A27929 , 27 iv 1982, 6 m, 4 spec. (including 1 juvenile) .

Description

Largest specimen 92 mm. Colour in life mottled grey, dorsally with paired series of dark blotches. Cuvierian tubules present. Table discs ( Figure 6A, B ) with up to 10 marginal holes. Pseudobuttons ( Figure 6C )) rarely faintly knobbed. Dorsal podia with elongate rods, perforated at ends ( Figure 6F ); ventral podia with shorter rods ( Figure 6E ) and characteristic elongated plates with jagged margins ( Figure 6D ). Table disc diameter 33–93 µm; spire height 25–58 µm; pseudobuttons 30–115 µm. Tentacles with slender rods perforated and/or branched at ends.

Local distribution KZN, South Africa and Mozambique.

General distribution

Throughout the Indo-West Pacific region but frequently confused with H. (L.) pardalis . Not known from Hawaii.

Habitat In sand, under rock or between sandstone slabs.

Remarks

H. pardalis of H.L. Clark (1923) from either Mozambique or KZN proved, on re-examination, to be referable to H. (L.) insignis and so is also the H. pardalis described by Thandar (1971) from Isipingo Beach (KZN). Although the form of the body and the life colouration of the latter specimen (now in MNHNP) and the more recent material from KZN are identical, in the former there is a clear distinction between papillae and tubefeet. Both forms lack special anal papillae but the anus of the original Isipingo specimen is bordered by naked skin. Since all specimens are sympatric with an identical complement of spicules, the differences are individual or ecological variations. A point of some interest is that the original Isipingo specimen came from between sandstone slabs containing little sand while the others were collected beneath stones, more or less embedded in sand. This might speak in favour of ecological variations. In its spicules, especially the jaggededged plates from the tubefeet, and the absence of special anal papillae, this species is distinct from H. (L.) pardalis as maintained by Heding (1934) and supported by Rowe (in Clark and Rowe,1971). However, Rowe (in Rowe & Gates 1995) now considers both to be conspecific, a view held by several workers and detailed by Samyn (2003:42), hence the detailed synonymy. Not withstanding this, I have no difficulty in separating both forms (see remarks under H. (L.) pardalis below).

Figures

FIGURE 6. Holothuria (Lessonothuria) insignis Ludwig, 1875. SAM-A27928. Vetch’s Pier. A. Tables from dorsal body wall; B. tables from ventral body wall; C. pseudobuttons from dorsal body wall; D. plates from around pedicel endplates; E. tubefeet rods; F. papillae rods; G. tentacle rods; H..madreporite; I. part of calcareous ring. (A–C scale a; D. scale b)