Phyllophorus dubia ( Bedford, 1899 )

Michonneau, François & Paulay, Gustav, 2014, Revision of the genus Phyrella (Holothuroidea: Dendrochirotida) with the description of a new species from Guam, Zootaxa 3760 (2), pp. 101-140 : 135

Phyllophorus dubia ( Bedford, 1899)

Orcula (? Phyllophorus ) dubia Bedford, 1899:144 , pl. XVII, fig. 4. Holotype not located; type locality: Loyalty Islands , Lifu

Remarks. This species was only known from the type, 10.5 cm long with ca. 15 tentacles; it was described as lacking tables, with only rosettes and needles (latter likely contaminating sponge spicules) as ossicles, and with the calcareous ring with fragmented radials and inter-radials. The species was collected in the intertidal. The species was compared with Phyllophorus bedoti and Orcula tenera by Bedford. The species is closest to Phyrella , but differs in lacking tables. It has not been studied since the original description. The holotype has not been located, it is not at the BMNH. Orcula Troschel, 1846 (non Held, 1837, renamed Ekmania Hansen & McKenzie, 1991 ) is a cucumariid genus, so we tentatively assign this species to Phyllophorus sensu lato for nomenclatural purposes. Specific-level comparisons and generic assignment is not possible without restudy; we consider this to be species inquirenda.