Aslia pygmaea ( Théel, 1886a )

Pawson, David L., Pawson, Doris J. & King, Rachael A., 2010, A taxonomic guide to the Echinodermata of the South Atlantic Bight, USA: 1. Sea cucumbers (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea), Zootaxa 2449, pp. 1-48 : 15-17

Aslia pygmaea ( Théel, 1886a)

Figure 6 c, 9

Colochirus pygmaea Théel, 1886a: 83 , pl. 4 fig.9.

Pentacta pygmaea .— Deichmann, 1930: 180, pl. 21 figs. 10–16. Ocnus pygmaeus .— Miller & Pawson, 1984: 17, figs.10, 11.

Material examined. USNM E02639, S.C., Winyan Bay, 33°49’45”N, 78°04’00”W, R/V Fish Hawk, Sta 8275, July 12, 1915, 7fm. USNM E02643, N.C., off Fishing Buoy, 34°20’15”N, 76°49’00”W, R/V Fish Hawk, Sta 8283, July 14, 1915, 16fm. USNM E17189, S.C., 7 miles off Little River, August 1949, 1.4m, 2. USNM E19492 , Georgia, 31°40'N, 80°16'W, R/V Pierce, Sta 4D, February 24, 1977, 26m. USNM E19715 , Florida, 29°31'N, 80°40'W, R/V Pierce, Sta 7C, Nov.27, 1977, 18m. USNM E19716 , Florida, 29°31'N, 80°40'W, R/V Pierce, Sta 4D, February 24, 1977, 26m. SNM E21577 , Florida., 28 °05’30”N, 80°11’30”W R/ V Silver Bay, Sta 1952, April 20, 1960, 29.3–30.2m, 9. USNM E22625, Florida, off E coast, 29°16’30”N, 80°58’00”W, R/V Pelican, Sta 174-3, Jan. 20, 1940, 18m. USNM E22448 , Florida, off NE coast, 30°24'N, 80°26'W, R/V Combat, Sta 200, Jan. 10, 1957, 38– 40m. USNM E22551, N.C., 45 miles SSW of Cape, 34°03’30”N, 76°44’00”W, R/V Pelican, Sta 185-2, Feb. 16, 1940, 37m. USNM E22548, N.C., 33°40'N, 78°13’30”W, R/V Pelican, Sta 183-11, Feb. 13, 1940, 16m. USNM E22551, N.C., 45 miles SSW of Cape Lookout, 34°03.5'N, 76°44.0'W, R/V Pelican, Sta 185-2, February 16, 1940, 20fm. USNM E22553, N.C., 34°07’00”N, 77°01’00”W, R/V Pelican, Sta 192-12, March 7, 1940, 27m, 2. USNM E22555, S.C., 33°33’00”N, 77°42’00”W, R/V Pelican, Sta 184-7, Feb. 15, 1940, 16m. USNM E2639, S.C., Winyan Bay, 33°49’45”N, 78°04’00”W, R/V Fish Hawk, Sta 8275, July 12, 1915, 13m. USNM E27787 , Georgia, 31°23’30”N, 80°53’06”W, R/V Dolphin, Sta IS02, August 9, 1980, 17m. SNM E27788 , Georgia, 31°23’30”N, 80°52’48”W, R/V Dolphin, Sta IS02, August 9, 1980, 17m, 2. USNM E27789 , Georgia, 31°23’12”N, 80°53’06”W, R/V Dolphin, Sta IS02, August 9, 1980, 18m. USNM E27790 , off S.C., 32°29’54”N, 79°42’36”W, R/V Dolphin, Sta IS01, August 7, 1980, 17m. USNM E27791 , Georgia, 31°23’42”N, 80°52’54”W, R/V Dolphin, Sta IS02, August 9, 1980, 17m. USNM E27792 , Georgia, 31°23’06”N, 80°53’06”W, R/V Dolphin, Sta IS02, August 9, 1980, 18m. USNM E27793 , Georgia, 31°23’12”N, 80°53’ 12”W, R/V Dolphin, Sta IS02, August 9, 1980, 17m. USNM E27794 , off S.C., 32°30’00”N, 79°42’18”W, R/V Dolphin, Sta IS01, August 7, 1980, 17m. USNM E27795 , off S.C., 31°23’48”N, 80°53’06”W, R/V Dolphin, Sta IS02, August 9, 1980, 17m, 6. USNM E27796 , off Georgia, 31°23’42”N, 80°53’06”W, R/V Dolphin, Sta IS02, August 9, 1980, 17m, 5. USNM E28181, off Georgia, 31°23’42”N, 80°53’06”W, R/V Dolphin, Sta IS02, August 9, 1980, 17m. USNM E28182, off S.C., 32°30’00”N, 79°42’18”W, R/V Dolphin, Sta IS01, Jan. 17, 1980, 18m. USNM E28184, off Georgia, 31°23’12”N, 80°53’18”W, R/V Dolphin, Sta IS02, Jan. 29, 1980, 18m, 2. USNM E28185, off Georgia, 31°24’06”N, 80°53’12”W, R/V Dolphin, Sta IS02, Jan.29, 1980, 18m. USNM E28186, off Georgia, 31°23’12”N, 80°52’54”W, R/V Dolphin, Sta IS02, August 9, 1980, 17m. USNM E28210 , off Georgia., 31°24’00”N, 80°53’18”W, R/V Dolphin, Sta IS02, Jan. 29, 1980, 16m, 3. USNM E28307, off Georgia., 31°24’00”N, 80°53’24”W, R/V Dolphin, Sta IS02, Jan. 29, 1980, 18m. USNM E28308, off Georgia., 30°26’12”N, 80°12’18”W, R/V Dolphin, Sta IS03, March 11, 1980, 61m. USNM E28315, off Georgia., 30°26’ 5”'N, 80°12’ 06”W, R/V Dolphin, Sta IS03, March 10, 1980, 60m. USNM E29355 , off S.C., 32°49’24”N, 78°39’48”W, R/V Bagby, Sta MS06, July 27, 1981, 34m. USNM E29358 , off S.C., 31°31’54”N, 79°44’24”W, R/V Oregon, Sta OS01, August 5, 1981, 58m. USNM E29361 , off S.C., 32°49’ 30”N, 78°39’48”W, R/V Bagby, Sta MS06, March 15, 1981, 34m, 2. USNM E29374, off S.C., 32°29’ 3”'N, 79°42’30”W, R/V Bagby, Sta IS01, July 26, 1981, 18m. USNM E29388, off Georgia, 31°41’ 0”'N, 80°20’48”W, R/V Bagby, Sta MS02, March 10, 1981, 28m. USNM E29389, off S.C., 32°29’36”N, 79°42’30”W, R/V Bagby, Sta IS01, May 23, 1981, 17m. USNM E29406, off S.C., 32°29’00”N, 78°50’00”W, R/V Oregon, Sta OS06, August 6, 1981, 52m. USNM E29407, off S.C., 32°29’36”N, 79°42’30”W, R/V Bagby, Sta IS01, May 23, 1981, 17m. USNM E29410 , off Georgia, 31°41’00”N, 80°20’36”W, R/V Oregon, Sta MS02, April 29, 1981, 52m. USNM E29437, off S.C., 32°49’30”N, 78°39’48”W, R/V Bagby, Sta MS06, March 15, 1981, 34m. USNM E29438, off N.C., 34°23’18”N, 76°33’48”W, R/V Cape Hatteras, Sta IS05, Nov. 10, 1981, 18m. USNM E29439, off N.C., 33°31’54”N, 77°25’30”W, R/V Cape Hatteras, Sta MS04, Nov. 30, 1981, 29m, 3. USNM E29440, off Georgia., 30°26’12”N, 80°12’18”W, R/V Dolphin, Sta OS03, March 11, 1980, 61m. USNM E29456, off N.C., 34°23’36”N, 76°34’54”W, R/V Bluefin, Sta IS05, Feb. 9, 1981, 24m. USNM E29457, off N.C., 34°23’18”N, 76°33’48”, R/V Cape Hatteras, Sta IS05, Nov. 10, 1981, 18m, 5. USNM E29458, N.C., 33°31’42”, 77°24’ 30”W, R/V Dan Moore, Sta MS04, May 18, 1981, 29m, 3. USNM E29459, N.C., 33°31’24”N, 77°24’00”W, R/V Dan Moore, Sta MS04, May 19, 1981, 30m. USNM E29460, off N.C., 34°23’ 06”N, 76°33’48”W, R/V Cape Hatteras, Sta IS05, Nov. 10, 1981, 19m, 11. USNM E29461, N.C., 33°30’36”N, 77°24’12”W, R/V Dan Moore, Sta MS04, August 12, 1981, 28m, 6. USNM E29462 , N.C., 33°32’24”N, 77°24’18”W, R/V Dan Moore, Sta MS04, May 18, 1981, 32m, 2. USNM E29463 , off N.C., 33°31’48”N, 77°25’06”W, R/V Cape Hatteras, Sta MS04, Nov. 30, 1981, 29m, 2. USNM E29464 , N.C., 33°33’30”N, 77°25’00”W, R/V Dan Moore, Sta MS04, May 18, 1981, 34m, 2. USNM E29465, N.C., 33°32’48”N, 77°24’18”W, R/V Dan Moore, Sta MS04, May 18, 1981, 32m, 6. USNM E29466, off N.C., 33°32’36”N, 77°24’54”W, R/V Bluefin, Sta MS04, Feb. 7, 1981, 34m. USNM E29467, N.C., 33°32’30”N, 77°24’54”W, R/V Dan Moore, Sta MS04, May 18, 1981, 32m. USNM E29468, off N.C., 33°31’36”N, 77°24’54”W, R/V Dan Moore, Sta MS04, May 19, 1981, 30m. USNM E29469, off N.C., 34°23’06”N, 76°34’12”W, R/V Dan Moore, Sta IS0 5, May 19, 1981, 20m. USNM E29470, off N.C., 33°31’36”N, 77°24’18”W, R/V Dan Moore, Sta MS04, August 12, 1981, 30m, 5. USNM E29471, off N.C., 33°31’30”N, 77°24’42”W, R/V Cape Hatteras, Sta MS04, Nov. 30, 1981, 30m, 4. USNM E34102, Florida, 14 Nautical Miles E, 27°40'N, 80°06'W, R/V Delaware II, Sta 0 25, April 21, 1983, 27.4m, 7. USNM E41645, East of Georgia, 31°23’12”N, 80°53’00”W, R/V Oregon Sta lS02, July 29, 1981, 17m. USNM E41650, East of Georgia, 31°23’18”N, 80°52’54”W, R/V Oregon Sta lS02, October 22, 1981, 17m. USNM E41643, East of S.C., 32°29’18”N, 79°42’48”W, R/V Oregon Sta lS01, Feb. 26, 1981, 17m. USNM E41650, East of Georgia, 31°23’24”N, 80°53’00”W, R/V Oregon Sta lS02, October 22, 1981, 17m, 3. USNM E41648, East of Georgia, 31°23’36”N, 80°52’54”W, R/V Oregon Sta lS02, October 22, 1981, 17m. USNM E41647, S.C., 32°30’00”N, 79°42’42”W, R/V Oregon, Sta lS01, July 31, 1981, 17m. USNM E41644, S.C., 32°29’48”N, 79°41’54”W, R/ V Oregon, Sta lS01, May 2, 1981, 18m. USNM E41646, Georgia, 31°23’12”N, 80°53’12”W, R/V Oregon, Sta lS02, July 29, 1981, 16m. USNM E41651, N.C., 34°23’12”N, 76°34’12”W, R/V Dan Moore, Sta lS05, May 19, 1981, 18m. SERTC 2099, 19.7 miles @ 138 degrees off Charleston Light, SC, 32°31.1'N, 79°35.2'W, coll. GML Staff, 3.7 m, April 24 1977. SERTC 2101, off Isle of Palms, SC, 32°42'N, 79°40'W, coll. GML Staff, 11 m, October 25 1974. SERTC 2129, off ST Helena Sound, SC, 32° 12.40N, 79° 55.52W, coll. SERTC Staff, 24.4 m, April 29 2005. SERTC 2211, 19.2 miles @ 139 degrees off Charleston Light, SC, 32°31.4'N, 79°36.0'W, coll. GML Staff, 18 m, March 21 1976. SERTC 2459, off Edisto Island, SC, 32°27.18'N, 79°55.70'W, coll. SERTC Staff, 13.4–13.7 m, June 4 2004. DML 3098, 34 º30'W, 76º45'W, R/V Eastward Sta E-32-69, October 2, 1969, 20 m. DML 3099, 33 º57.5'W, 77º38.5'W, R/V Eastward Sta E-10-71, May 25, 1971, 20 m. DML 3100, 34 º05.5'N, 77º27'W, R/V Eastward Sta E-10-71, May 25, 1971, 23 m. DML 3102, 33 º58'W, 77º41.5'W, R/V Eastward Sta. E-20-71, August 3, 1971, 14 m. DML 3103, 34 º20.2'N, 77º16.5'W, R/ V Eastward Sta E-10-71, May 25, 1971, 18 m. DML 3104, 33 º50.2'N, 78º10.0'W, R/V Eastward Sta E-28-71, November 26, 1971, 8 m.

Diagnosis. Length 30–70 mm. Color light brown to chocolate brown; ends of feet lighter, due to wear. Body form characteristic, with heavy, conspicuous tube feet confined to 5 radii. Mouth concealed by 5 prominent oral valves. Body wall rigid, with numerous ossicles consisting of buttons (45–80 μm long) with 10 knobs, and deep cups (45–55 μm in diameter).

Distribution. NC to E and W FL, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean and Brazil.

Habitat. Intertidal or subtidal on sand and shell bottoms, also inside sponges. 0– 37m.

Remarks. Miller and Pawson (1984) note the extraordinary discovery by T.C. Shirley of several specimens of this species living deep inside sponges. No entry point was found, and it was surmised that the holothurians entered the sponges while very young, and grew in situ.

Figures

FIGURE 6. Some SERTC holothurians. a) Pentamera pulcherrima; b) Thyonella pervicax; c) Aslia pygmaea; d) Holothuria princeps; e) Actinopyga agassizii; f) Isostichopus badionotus. Scalebars: a = 1 cm; b, c = 2 cm; d, e, f = 5 cm.