Stichopus cf. monotuberculatus Quoy & Gaimard, 1833

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 : 7-9

Stichopus cf. monotuberculatus Quoy & Gaimard, 1833

Figure 1

Holothuria monotuberculata Quoy & Gaimard, 1833: 31 , pl. 432, fig. 1.

Stichopus monotuberculatus Massin, 1996b:163 (synonymy before 1996).

Stichopus cf. monotuberculatus Samyn, 2003: 92 , fig. 37 A–K, fig. 55D, pl. 4C (synonymy after 1996).

Type MNHNP .

Type locality Port Louis, Mauritius .

Previous southern African record None.

Material examined SAM-A27918 , Isipingo Beach , KZN, 30.iii.1987, K.S. Ganga, 1 spec.

Description

Specimen flattened, length 107 mm, width in mid-body 45 mm, anterior and posterior ends 18 mm and 24 mm respectively, deep transverse grooves dorsally. Colour in alcohol greyish-white. Tentacles 20, yellowishwhite; mouth ventral, encircled by papillose collar. Anus ventral, encircled by papillae. Podia white, dorsally few, scattered, retracted except on left dorsal ambulacrum where they arise from prominent warts; ventral podia in rows, 2–4 rows in each ventro-lateral ambulacrum and 5–6 rows in mid-ventral ambulacrum.

Calcareous ring ( Figure 1K ) with large radial and smaller interradial plates, the former with two ampullary notches and a deep posterior notch. Polian vesicle elongated; stone canal twisted in dorsal mesentery, madreporite well calcified.

Spicules of dorsal body wall comprise tables, rosettes and scarce C-shaped deposits. Tables ( Figure 1A– C ) with smooth disc, 21–38 µm (mean 30 µm), perforated by four large central and a circle of smaller peripheral holes; spire 25–38 µm high (mean 30 µm), of four pillars, a single low cross-bar and a squarish, perforated crown with a cluster of teeth at each corner; rosettes open ( Figure 1E ), 19–40 µm (mean 24 µm). Spicules of ventral body wall comprise tables with mostly irregular disc, 25–38 µm (mean 31 µm) ( Figure 1D ), C-shaped deposits but no rosettes. Dorsal podia with larger tables with teeth in clusters or all round, rosettes, numerous C-shaped deposits (63–77 µm, mean 68 µm) ( Figure 1F ), finely spinulated rods (229–302 µm, mean 249 µm) ( Figure 1G ) and overlapping plates (52–94 µm, mean 80 µm) at terminal end ( Figure 1H ). Ventral podia with tables with usually spinose disc, 46–69 µm (mean 56 µm), a moderate spire, 17–25 µm (mean 21 µm) high, and large multilocular plates, 144–383 µm (mean 216 µm) ( Figure 1I ) and rods, 308–433 µm (mean 362 µm). Tentacle with curved, spinulated rods, 44–337 µm long ( Figure 1J ).

Distribution Tropical Indo-west Pacific Ocean. 0–30 m ( Rowe & Gates 1995:325).

Habitat KZN specimen collected from tidal pool on rock shelf, little water.

Remarks

The single specimen is tentatively identified as Stichopus cf. monotuberculatus because of the lateral flange of large dorsal papillae situated on conspicuous warts on at least one side, the absence of rosettes and Cshaped deposits in the ventral body wall and podia, and the presence of podial tables with a spinose rim. In some respects it corresponds well with the re-description of the type by Cherbonnier (1952) and in other respects, either the description by Massin (1996b) or that by Samyn (2003).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Stichopus cf. monotuberculatus (Quoy & Gaimard. 1833). SAM-A27918. A. Small tables from dorsal body wall; B. small tables from ventral body wall; C.large tables from dorsal body wall; D. large tables from ventral body wall; E. open rosettes from dorsal body wall; F. C-shaped rods from papillae; G. rods from papillae; H. plates comprising papillae end-plate; I. part of tube foot end-plate; J. rods from tentacles; K. part of calcareous ring. (A–J scale a)