Labidodemas javaensis sp. nov.

(Figures 9–13)

Type material. Holotype MZB Hol. 413; 85x 30 mm in ethanol; under a rock, 3 m depth; coll. by Tim Teripang P 2O LIPI, 1 July 2018.

Type locality. Bilik Sajile, Baluran National Park, East Java, Indonesia.

External morphology of holotype. Medium-sized specimen (85 x 30 mm), body cylindrical, worm-like. Colour in living animals and ethanol is similar, uniformly white, with dark brown colour at the anterior and posterior parts (Figs. 9A–D). Body wall 2–4 mm thick, firm, smooth to the touch. Mouth terminal, surrounded by 20 dendritic tentacles, yellowish (Fig. 9E). Anus terminal, encircled by 8–10 anal papillae, arranged solitary. Dorsal papillae small, yellowish, spread over the surface. Ventral tube feet numerous, yellowish, longer than dorsal papillae, 3–4 mm, spread in three rows (ambulacral).

Internal morphology of holotype. Calcareous ring composed of huge quadrangular radial pieces and slender interradial pieces, posterior margin of radial pieces pronounced concave, anterior side with deep median notch (Fig. 9F). Radial pieces three times wider and higher than interradial pieces (radial pieces 3 mm wide and high). Cuvierian tubules absent. Tentacle ampullae present, 4–5 mm long. Single Polian vesicle, tube-like, 10 mm long. Gonad one tuft, branched. Respiratory trees arise from a single stalk. Longitudinal muscles medially attachment, margins free, flat.

Ossicles of holotype. Dorsal body wall and dorsal papillae hold tables, rods and pseudo-buttons (Figs. 10, 11). Table discs rounded with spiny edges, usually perforated by four central holes, occasionally up to six central holes; rarely with peripheral holes, but if present, usually 2–4 holes; four short pillars united by a single cross beam, ending in a regular or irregular crown with 4–5 huge spines, usually with distal bifurcation, the crown of spines always wider than disc; disc 40–70 µm across (Figs. 10A, 11A). In dorsal papillae also present tables with very spinous disc rims, mostly with reduced pillars and ending in reduced crowns with numerous small spines, discs 40–55 µm across (Fig. 11B). Rods observed in several shapes, smooth tri-radiate rods, 60–100 µm long (Fig. 10B); smooth with or without perforations, 40–100 µm long (Figs. 10C–D, 11E); rugose surface rods only found in papillae, straight or tri-radiate, 50–70 µm long (Fig. 11D). Pseudo-buttons rarely found, 100–110 µm long (Figs. 10E, 11C).

Ventral body wall only present regular tables, discs 65–80 µm across (Fig. 10F). Ventral tube feet with a few regular tables, discs 50–100 µm across (Fig. 12A), and very numerous tables similar to those in dorsal papillae, 40–60 µm across (Fig. 12B); large rods with smooth surface very rare, 180 µm long (Fig. 12D); large perforated plates many, 400–450 µm across (Fig. 12E). pseudo-buttons only a few, 60–65 µm long (Fig. 12C).

Tentacles only present rods, straight or slightly curved, smooth or rugose surface with blunt spines, 35–50 µm long (Fig. 13A). Anal papillae always with tables disc with reduced pillars and crowns, spiny rims and more squarish, 25–45 µm across (Fig. 13B); tri-radiate rods with spiny surfaces, 40–60 µm long (Fig. 13C); straight rods with smooth surface, 45–60 µm long (Fig. 13E); slightly curved and straight rods with spiny surfaces, 40–55 µm long (Fig. 13D); spiny surface rods with perforations, 45–55 µm long (Fig. 13F). Longitudinal muscles devoid ossicles.

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Remarks. The new species is characterised by having a ribbon-like calcareous ring, three rows of ventral tube feet, and ossicle assemblage that undoubtedly belongs to Labidodemas Selenka, 1867 .

Three main characters specific to L. javaensis sp. nov. are (1) most table discs devoid of peripheral holes with rim of the discs very spiny, (2) dorsal papillae and ventral tube feet always with two types of tables (i.e. regular table with crown spines always bifurcate distally and smaller table size with very spiny disc and crown), (3) the present of tri-radiate shape of rods in the dorsal body wall and anal papillae.

The ossicle assemblages show that Labidodemas javaensis sp. nov. is closely related to L. quadripartitum Massin, Samyn & Thandar, 2004, but several differences warrant its new species status. Table 1 lists the character differences between both species and the other two closer-related species ( L. semperianum Selenka, 1867 and L. pseudosemperianum Massin, Samyn & Thandar, 2004).

Etymology. Named after its type locality and regional occurrence, Java, Indonesia.

Ecology. A nocturnal animal, it hides under the rocks during the day.

Depth range. 3–7 m depth.

Geographic distribution. At present only known from the type locality.