Holothuria (Selenkothuria) erinacea Semper, 1868

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 : 29-30

Holothuria (Selenkothuria) erinacea Semper, 1868

Figure 13

Holothuria erinaceus Semper, 1868:91 k, 250, 279, pl.30: fig.24, p1.34:

fig.9, p1.35: fig.14, p1.36: fig.11, p1.38: figs. 1 & 2.

Holothuria (Selenkothuria) erinaceus Cherbonnier, 1988:60 (synonymy before 1988), fig. 22.

Holothuria (Selenkothuria) erinacea Samyn 2003:68 (records after 1988), figs. 27 A–E, 54B.

Syntypes ZMH E2551 .

Type locality Fiji.

Previous southern African record Northern Mozambique and KZN, South Africa.

Material examined

Isipingo Beach, KZN, A.S.Thandar, 13 x 1969, 1 spec., (deposited in the Australian Museum under AM J20196 ) .

Local distribution Known only from southern KZN and northern Mozambique.

General distribution Indo-West Pacific but not yet recorded from Hawaii, W. India, Pakistan, China and Japan.

Habitat KZN specimen found in rock pool beneath several specimens of H. cinerascens .

Description

Size 90 x 31 mm; radial plates of calcareous ring ( Figure 13E ) elongate, broad anteriorly, narrower and convex posteriorly. Madreporite ( Figure 13D ) well calcified, oval. Body wall spicules comprise rods and plates, variously developed ( Figure 13A ), the former with spiny margins and none to few holes, the latter usually with one or more series of holes on each side of shaft. Papillae rods curved, elongate, with or without perforations ( Figure 13B ). Tentacle rods ( Figure 13C ) with expanded and perforated ends.

Remarks

The first record of this species from southern Africa is that of Kalk (1959), based upon material from Mozambique Island. The single KZN specimen was initially thought to be H. portovallartensis (see Thandar 1971: M.Sc. thesis, unpublished) and sent to Dr. Cherbonnier for confirmation. Dr Cherbonnier merely queried the identification but did not name the species despite the fact that the Mozambique Island material was identified by him. However, Dr. Rowe (pers.com.) is of the opinion that its spicules are quite typical of H. (S.) erinacea . I respect Dr. Rowe’s judgment and now also realize that the spicules correspond well with those illustrated by Cherbonnier (1988: fig.22) for the Madagascar material. Notwithstanding this, it must be pointed out that the spicules of both the KZN and Madagascar specimens strongly resemble those of H.(S.) portovallartensis illustrated by Caso (1954) and Deichmann (1958), even in their dimension (50–140 µm in the KZN specimen; 62–155 µm in H. portovallartensis ). Hence, it is probable that, since both H. parva and the typical H. erinacea have parallel forms in the East Pacific, respectively in H. lubrica and H. theeli , the KZN form of H. erinacea may be the parallel of East Pacific H. portovallartensis , differing in its smaller size and different colouration. Just as the latter species was confused with H. theeli on several occasions until it was separated by Caso (1954), so it is likely that what is considered as H. erinacea in the Indo-West Pacific region may represent two species. Clark and Rowe (1971) expressed doubt as to the occurrence of H. erinacea on the east African coast. This second record indicates that the species is present but perhaps not common.

Figures

FIGURE 13. Holothuria (Selenkothuria) erinacea Semper. Aust. Mus. AM J20196. Isipingo. A. Rods and plates from dorsal body wall (various stages); B. papillae rods; C. tentacle rods; D. madreporite; E. part of calcareous ring. (A. & C scale a)