Holothuria (Holothuria) stellati Delle Chiaje, 1824

Mezali, Karim, Thandar, Ahmed S. & Khodja, Ihcene, 2021, On the taxonomic status of Holothuria (Holothuria) tubulosa (s. s.) from the Algerian coast with the description of a new Mediterranean species, Holothuria (Holothuria) algeriensis n. sp. (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea: Holothuriidae), Zootaxa 4981 (1), pp. 89-106 : 96

Holothuria (Holothuria) stellati Delle Chiaje, 1824

Figure 4C , Table 4

Material examined. UF5468 , Sidi-Fredj , Algeria, 36°45.000’N, 2°50.000’E, 0.5–10 m, Summer 2006, 1 spec. UF5495 , Stidia , Algeria, 35°49.922’N, 0°1.174’O, 3 m, Summer 2006, 1 spec. LPVCMRMS2020.208, Ouillis , Algeria, 36°7.436’N, 0°15.219’E, 5 m, June 2020, 1 spec.

Description. Body dark brown dorsally ( Figure 4 Ca), light brown ventrally ( Figure 4 Cb); sometimes reaching a length of 30 cm and width of 5–6 cm. Dorsal surface arched, ventral surface flattened, the latter with fairly dense, scattered pedicels. Integument thick (0.70 µm) and smooth. A row of 5–6 very large, straight pointed protuberances separated at equal intervals on both sides of body. Cuvierian tubules absent. Collar around mouth thick (about 3.50 mm).

Ossicles. Body wall tables with circular disc ( Figure 4 Cc) with wavy outline and 4 large central and 4 small peripheral perforations. Buttons ( Figure 4 Ce) of several types: (i) oval with irregular, rough, smooth and thick surfaces; (ii) larger ones slightly rectangular in shape, with smooth but sometimes with wavy outline; (iii) enlarged, rounded ones and (iv) those that are slightly warped in the middle. Perforated plates of the pedicels of two types: enlarged and elongated ( Figure 4 Cd). Tentacles with straight ( Figure 4 Cf) or slightly arched rods.

Figures

FIGURE 4. A. Holothuria (Roweothuria) poli UF5491: Aa. Dorsal surface. Ab. Ventral surface. Ac. Tables of dorsal and ventral surfaces. Ad. Buttons of dorsal and ventral surfaces. Ae. Elongated plates of pedicels. Af. Enlarged plates of pedicels. Ag. Straight rods of tentacles. Ah. Arched rods of tentacles. Ai. Terminal plates of pedicels. B. Holothuria (Roweothuria) arguinensis CMNI 2021–0194: Ba. Dorsal surface. Bb. Ventral surface. Bc. Tables of dorsal and ventral surfaces. Bd. Buttons of dorsal and ventral surfaces. Be. Elongated plates of pedicels. Bf. Arched rods of tentacles. Bg. Straight rods of tentacles C. Holothuria (Holothuria) stellati UF5468: Ca. Dorsal surface Cb. Ventral surface. Cc. Tables of dorsal and ventral surfaces. Cd. Elongated plates of pedicels. Ce. Buttons of dorsal and ventral surfaces. Cf. Straight rods of tentacles. Ossicles of B and C except Bf and Bg with SEM. Ossicles of A, Bf and Bg with LM.