Aspidosiphon Diesing, 1851

Dean, Harlan K., Hernández-Ávila, Iván & Cutler, Edward B., 2007, Sipunculans of the Caribbean coast of Venezuela and Curaçao, Zootaxa 1431, pp. 45-54 : 51

Genus Aspidosiphon Diesing, 1851

Aspidosiphon (Aspidosiphon) elegans (Chamisso & Eysenhardt, 1821) Aspidosiphon brocki Augener, 1903:328 –330. – Rice, 1975:40 –41, 44.

Specimens collected:

CURA Ç AO: EBC – STA 302: 29/xii/87; 12º08’ N, 68º 59’ W; Piscadera Bay, swimming beach at entrance to bay; (5). STA 305: 31/xii/87; 12º04’ N, 68º 53’ W; Caracas Bay, along causeway on ocean side; (1). STA 306: 31/xii/87: 12º 0 5’ N, 68º 52’ W; Yacht club in Spaansche water; (2). STA 307: 1/i/88; Open water west of Princess beach hotel, south side of island; (1).

CUMAN Á: EBC – STA 310: 4/i/88; 9º 16’ N, 64º 24’ W; Mochima bay, Playa Blanca; (2). STA 311: 5/i/88; Playa Colarada, west of Mochima; (4). STA 313: 7/i/88: Playa Colarada, west of Mochima; (26).

LOS ROQUES ARCHIPELAGO: EBC – STA 314: 10/i/88: 11º 48’ N, 66º 53’ W; Isla Dos Mosquises, dead reef west of dock, north side of island; (5). STA 315: 11/i/88; Southwest corner, Acropora coral, live and dead; (172). STA 317: 12/i/88; Isla Dos Mosquises Sur, Cayo off Southeast corner in outer Acropora reef; (22). STA 318: 12/i/88; Island of conche shells 5 minutes off Southwest corner of Isla Dos Mosquises; (4).

Remarks. Members of the Aspidosiphonidae are easily recognized by the presence of a shield of horny plates adjacent to the anus. Members of the subgenus Aspidosiphon have a continuous longitudinal muscle layer (except perhaps under the anal shield) while members of the subgenus Paraspidosiphon have longitudinal muscles divided into separate bundles. Aspidosiphon elegans has an unfurrowed anal shield, bidentate distal hooks, and scattered, dark conical hooks.

Distribution. Aspidosiphon (Aspidosiphon) elegans is quite widespread in its distribution having been reported from the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean and the Caribbean from southern Florida ( USA) to Brazil. Like other members of the Aspidosiphonidae , it is usually found in soft rock or coral burrows ( Cutler, 1994). Rice (1975) found this species in Curaçao on the south shore of Spaasche water in intertidal Porites rubble.