Holothuria (Halodeima) grisea Selenka, 1867

Prata, Jéssica, Manso, Cynthia L. C. & Christoffersen, Martin L., 2014, Aspidochirotida (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) from the northeast coast of Brazil, Zootaxa 3889 (1), pp. 127-150 : 132-133

Holothuria (Halodeima) grisea Selenka, 1867

Figure 3

Holothuria grisea Selenka, 1867: 328 ; Semper, 1868: 92; Lampert, 1885: 85; Théel, 1886: 214; Clark, 1901: 258; 1919: 63; 1933: 105–107; Deichmann, 1926: 15; 1930: 76; 1957: 11–12; Tommasi, 1957: 40 –41; Lopez, 1957: 3 –7; Brito, 1960: 3.

Ludwigothuria grisea .― Deichmann, 1958: 310 –311; Tommasi, 1969: 7.

Holothuria (Halodeima) grisea .― Rowe, 1969: 137 –38; Caycedo, 1978: 168; Hendler et al., 1995: 287; Alves & Cerqueira, 2000: 547; Magalhães et al., 2005: 63; Gondim et al., 2008: 134; Lima & Fernandes, 2009: 58; Pawson et al., 2010: 36 –37; Xavier, 2010: 75; Oliveira et al., 2010: 12; Miranda et al., 2012: 141.

Material examined. Coqueiro Beach, Luiz Correa, PI, Brazil, 2 spec. ( UFPB.ECH-212); Grossa Point, Aracati, CE, Brazil, 2 spec. ( UFPB.ECH-1986); Tramá Point, Camarin, CE, Brazil, 3 spec. ( UFPB.ECH-274); São Roque Cape, RN, Brazil, 1 spec. ( UFPB.ECH-2139); Pipa Beach, Timbau do Sul, RN, Brazil, 3 spec. ( UFPB.ECH-210); Bacopari Cape, Formosa Bay, RN, Brazil, 9 spec. ( UFPB.ECH-1556); Cibaúna Beach, Timbau do Sul, RN, Brazil, 3 spec. ( UFPB.ECH-315); São Gonçalo Reef, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil, 1 spec. ( UFPB.ECH-1962); Barra de Camaratuba-Mataraca, PB, Brazil, 2 spec. ( UFPB.ECH-1072); 1 spec. ( UFPB.ECH-1223); 4 spec. ( UFPB.ECH- 2141); Baía da Traição Beach, PB, Brazil, 1 spec. ( UFPB.ECH-1793); Barra de Mamanguape Reefs, Rio Tinto, PB, Brazil, 1 spec. ( UFPB.ECH-1459); Cabedelo Pier, Cabedelo, PB, Brazil, 1 spec. ( UFPB.ECH-1222); Santa Catarina Beach, Cabedelo, PB, Brazil, 1 spec. ( UFPB.ECH-439); Cabo Branco Beach, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil, 1 spec. ( UFPB.ECH-311); 2 spec. ( UFPB.ECH-316); 2 spec. ( UFPB.ECH-272); 1 spec. ( UFPB.ECH-278); 1 spec. ( UFPB.ECH-207); 2 spec. ( UFPB.ECH-319); Cabo Branco Point, PB, Brazil, 2 spec. ( UFPB.ECH-277); Seixas Point, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil, 1 spec. ( UFPB.ECH-276); 1 spec. ( UFPB.ECH-213); Seixas Beach, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil, 1 spec. ( UFPB.ECH-313); Carapibus Beach, Conde, PB, Brazil, 1 spec. ( UFPB.ECH-1141); 1 spec. ( UFPB.ECH-1516); Coqueirinho Beach, Conde, PB, Brazil, 1 spec. ( UFPB.ECH-1517); 1 spec. ( UFPB.ECH-776); Tabatinga, PB, Brazil, 1 spec. ( UFPB.ECH-2145); Piedade Reef, Jaboatão, PE, Brazil, 1 spec. ( UFPB.ECH-2130); Itarema Beach, Cabo, PE, Brazil, 15 spec. ( UFPB.ECH-314); Rocky shore between Gaibu Beach and Santo Agostinho, Cabo, PE, Brazil, 5 spec. ( UFPB.ECH-310); Gaibu Beach, Cabo, PE, Brazil, 2 spec. ( UFPB.ECH-317); Near Orange Fort, Itamaracá Island, PE, Brazil, 1 spec. ( UFPB.ECH-209); Catuama Beach, Goiana, PE, Brazil, 1 spec. ( UFPB.ECH-318); Riacho Doce, AL, Brazil, 5 spec. ( UFPB.ECH-279); Penha Beach, Vera Cruz, Itaparica Island, BA, Brazil, 1 spec. ( UFPB.ECH-2133); Aratuba Point, Itaparica Island, BA, Brazil, 5 spec. ( UFPB.ECH- 211); Pedrão, Itaparica Island, BA, Brazil, 4 spec. ( UFPB.ECH-206); Pituaçu Beach, Salvador, BA, Brazil, 1 spec. ( UFPB.ECH-2134); Pituba Point, Salvador, BA, Brazil, 1 spec. ( UFPB.ECH-1558); Imbaçuaba Point, Cumuruxatiba, BA, Brazil, 3 spec. ( UFPB.ECH-275); Reef between Imbaçuaba and Cumuruxatiba, BA, Brazil, 4 spec. ( UFPB.ECH-2138); 13º39,134’S; 38º53,491’W; Olivença, BA, Brazil, 1 spec. ( UFPB.ECH-1985); Viçosa, BA, Brazil, 1 spec. (EQMN-1812); Prado, Patacho Tarra Reef, BA, Brazil, 1 Jan. 1993, 1 spec. (EQMN-1683); Coroa Vermelha Point, Santa Cruz de Cabrália, BA, Brazil, 8 spec. ( UFPB.ECH-312); 3 spec. ( UFPB.ECH-208); Porto Seguro, BA, Brazil, 1 spec. (EQMN-608); Southeast of Santa Bárbara Island, Abrolhos Archipelago, BA, Brazil, 1 spec. (EQMN-359).

Type locality. Haiti ( Deichmann 1930).

Diagnosis. See Pawson et al. (2010: 37).

Description. 132 specimens analyzed, measuring between 70–190 mm long and 25–40 mm wide. Body cylindrical, flattened ventrally, with slightly tapering ends, a condition better perceived in large specimens ( Fig. 3 A). Body wall slightly thickened. Lateral papillae arranged in 4 series in young forms and 6 in adults ( Fig. 3 B). Tube feet covering body arranged into 4 series of six rows ventrally, forming a sole; in small specimens five rows may occur. Mouth ventral, surrounded by smaller papillae, with 25 peltate tentacles. Anus ventral, anal papillae not observed. Calcareous ring simple and short ( Fig. 3 D). In large specimens, radial plates robust, square-shaped, about 3.5 mm high and wide, with a slight invagination in posterior part. Interradial plates triangular-shaped, about 3 mm high and 2.5 wide, with the spire blind and a central reentrance posteriorly. Single polian vesicle, stone canal free and madreporite oblong to elongate, sometimes spiraled. Gonads no branched. Cuvierian organ present. Longitudinal muscles forming two strands. Respiratory trees lengthy, but not reaching the calcareous ring, with short branches. In alcohol, color usually dark gray, with some white spots, due to the concentration of ossicles on the body wall. In life, the color varies from gray to brown, with red to yellow spots ( Fig. 3 C), tube feet yellow to dark and tentacles yellow to brown. Body wall with tables, about 80 µm long and 40–60 high, with 4 central holes, and some spines in the margin ( Fig. 3 F). Spire of 4 pillars with about 12 terminal teeth. Irregular oblong buttons, 60 µm long and 30 µm wide, with 4 large central holes and some smaller marginal holes ( Fig. 3 G). Tube feet with perforated rods ( Fig. 3 H), 220 µm long and 90 µm wide; endplate about 250 µm diameter ( Fig. 3 I). Tentacles with rods, some curved and ramified ends, measuring 60–100 µm ( Fig. 3 E). Dorsal ossicles slightly larger than ventral ossicles.

Geographical distribution. Mexico (Gulf of Mexico), Antilles, Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil (from Piauí to Santa Catarina) and West Africa ( Pawson et al. 2010), up to 25 m.

Comments. According to Tommasi (1969) this is the most frequent and abundant species along the Brazilian coast. Holothuria (Halodeima) grisea may occur in high densities in the upper infralittoral. Mendes et al. (2006) observed an aggregated distribution pattern with some particular behaviors determined by specific environmental factors in a population from the Santa Catarina Coast, South Brazil. In the Northeast aggregations of this species were observed, but a study is necessary to reveal its pattern. Cutress (1996) analyzed the ossicles of H. (H.) grisea from individuals of different sizes and noted that in young forms the tables have a disc with 4 central holes and about 6–12 marginal holes, as well as a spinous margin. The spire ends in a single cross-shaped bundle. During growth the tables do not change their shape significantly, but the number of holes becomes reduced. We made similar observations in our material. H. (H.) grisea differs from the remaining species in the subgenus recorded for the Western Atlantic, Holothuria (Halodeima) floridana Pourtalés, 1851 and Holothuria (Halodeima) mexicana Ludwig, 1875 , by the shape of the stone canal, the madreporite, the ossicles, and the number of polian vesicles.

Ecological note. The specimens were found in environments with pliable sandstone, coral stones, in coral remains within mangroves, among stones of rocky substrates, and in tidal pools. Commonly found in hydrodynamic environments.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Holothuria (Halodeima) grisea Selenka. A, external view of an adult, ventral anddorsal side; B, external view of a juvenile, dorsal and ventral side; C, animal at environment; D, calcareous ring; E, rods; F, tables from body wall; G, buttons from body wall; H, perforated rods; I, fragment of endplate.