Holothuria (Lessonothuria) pardalis Selenka, 1867

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 : 18-20

Holothuria (Lessonothuria) pardalis Selenka, 1867

Figure 7

Holothuria pardalis Selenka, 1867: 336 , pl. 19, fig. 85 (non H.L. Clark, 1923: 423 = H. insignis Ludwig, 1875 ). Holothuria (Lessonothuria) pardalis Rowe and Gates, 1995: 292 (partim, synonymy); Massin, 1999: 25 (records before

1999), fig.18, 19; Samyn, 2003: 40 (records after 1999), fig.16.

Lectotype MCZ 677 (designated by Rowe, in Rowe & Gates 1995).

Paralectotype MCZ 676 (designated by Rowe, in Rowe & Gates 1995) .

Type locality Hawaii.

Previous southern African record Mozambique only.

Material examined UW Ecological Survey , Inhaca Island, June 1971, 4 spec.

Description

Specimens small, 38–60 mm long, largest 14 mm wide, vermiform. Colour, in alcohol, uniform pinkishbeige, slightly darker dorsally, speckled with white, indicating accumulation of spicules. Podia small, scattered, better developed ventrally. Mouth anterior, collar absent; anus terminal, surrounded by special anal papillae in five radial clusters. Stone canal short, slightly twisted; madreporite spherical; Polian vesicle single. Cuvierian tubules absent.

Table discs of body wall ( Figure 7B ) 48–70 µm (mean 56 µm), with distinctly spinose rim with four central and usually a single series of smaller marginal holes, the latter often reduced, then discs incomplete; spire extremely low, 41–48 µm (mean 45 µm), terminating in few teeth. Pseudobuttons ( Figure 7A ) of diverse size, 43–68 µm (mean 56 µm), and shape, either complete with 3–5 pairs of holes, or incomplete with asymmetrically placed holes, rarely reduced to a single series on one side. Podial deposits include usually elongate, 48– 230 µm (mean 139 µm), curved rods ( Figure 7C ) with one or two perforations at each end, rarely reduced to short rods with more perforations; end-plates ( Figure 7D ) (ca. 250 µm) present. Tentacles with simple, slightly curved, non-perforate rods, 31–65 µm (mean 43 µm), with uneven margins ( Figure 7E ).

Distribution Tropical-subtropical Indo-Pacific, 0–? 10 m.

Habitat Benthic, inshore, shallow, sand, mud, coral debris.

Remarks

This species has a formidable list of synonyms but it is possible that if all extant materials of the various forms are studied, there may be some justification to resurrect some of the names, as was done with H. (L) lineata by Rowe (in Rowe & Gates 1995). The writer, for example, has no difficulty in separating H. (L.) insignis from H. (L.) pardalis despite the fact that it is treated as a synonym of the latter species by many workers, including Rowe (op. cit.). The colouration, texture of the body wall, absence of anal papillae and the presence of multilocular plates with jagged or serrated margins in the ventral podia, are all characteristic of H. (L.) insignis . It is for this reason that H.L. Clark’s (1923) H. pardalis , re-examined by the writer, has been assigned to H. (L.) insignis which should be excluded from the synonymy of H. (L.) pardalis . The presence or absence of Cuvierian tubules and anal papillae in H. (L.) pardalis and its synonyms, should be critically examined in the light of existing type materials, original descriptions, distributions, etc., since such large taxonomic characters cannot be reduced to insignificance.

Figures

FIGURE 7. Holothuria (Lessonothuria) pardalis Selenka, 1867. Inhaca. A. pseudobuttons from body wall; B. tables with spinose discs; C. podial rods; D. end-plate; E. tentacle rods. (All drawn to same scale)