Holothuria (Mertensiothuria) albofusca Cherbonnier, 1988

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 : 22-23

Holothuria (Mertensiothuria) albofusca Cherbonnier, 1988

Figure 9

Holothuria (Mertensiothuria) albofusca Cherbonnier, 1988:114 , text-fig. 46; Samyn & Massin, 2003:2489, text-figs.1 & 11A.

Type MNHNP, EcHh 2753 .

Type locality Nosy Bay , Madagascar .

Previous southern African record Bhanga Nek, KZN.

Material examined UW Ecological Survey , Inhaca Island, Mozambique, NB96, 1 spec.

Distribution South-west Indian Ocean, not yet reported from north of Mozambique. Remarks

The single specimen, 88 x 20 mm, is yellowish in alcohol, cigar-shaped, with 20 whitish tentacles. The holotype, however, was described as chocolate-brown dorsally ( Cherbonnier 1988) with 18 greyish tentacles. Samyn & Massin (2003), who studied a single specimen from KZN, record both the dorsal and tentacle colour as brown. These differences are perhaps intraspecific as other characters correspond well. The podia are well differentiated into papillae dorsally and thick tubefeet ventrally. The stone canal is short, the madreporite spherical and, as reported by Samyn & Massin (2003), there are two Polian vesicles, the dorsal one elongate and the ventral terminally sacciform. Cuvierian tubules are present. The dorsal buttons ( Figure 9B ) measure 31–77 µm, the dorsal table discs ( Figure 9A ) 43–54 µm; corresponding measurements of the ventral spicules ( Figure 9C, D ) are 55–69 µm and 43–50 µm. The papillae rods are 44–80 µm long whereas those of the tubefeet 86–105 µm, the latter have, in addition, some solitary plates in the tubefeet ( Figure 9E ). The tentacle rods, 33–114 µm, are terminally spinulate.

Figures

FIGURE 9. Holothuria (Mertensiothuria) albofusca Cherbonnier, 1988. Inhaca, UW Ecological Survey, NB 93. A. Tables from dorsal body wall; B. buttons from dorsal body wall; C. tables from ventral body wall; D. buttons from ventral body wall; E. plate from tube foot; F. tentacle rods; G. part of calcareous ring. (A–E scale a; F. scale b)