Psolus tuberculosus tuberculosus Théel, 1886

Pawson, David L., Pawson, Doris J. & King, Rachael A., 2010, A taxonomic guide to the Echinodermata of the South Atlantic Bight, USA: 1. Sea cucumbers (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea), Zootaxa 2449, pp. 1-48 : 33-34

Psolus tuberculosus tuberculosus Théel, 1886 b

Figure 26

Psolus tuberculosus Théel, 1886b: 13 .

Psolus tuberculosus .— Miller & Pawson, 1984: 46, figs.38–40, figs. 38, 39; Miller & Turner, 1986: 484.

Material examined. USNM E20188 , Off Georgia, 30°57'N, 79°58'W, R/VPierce, Sta 5H, May 17, 1977, 183m. USNM E22850 , Florida, 30°11'N, 80°17'W, R/V Combat, Sta 72, August 31, 1956, 59m, 7. USNM E23110 , Florida, 30°11'N, 80°17'W, R/V Combat, Sta 72, August 31, 1956, 59m. SNM E32772 , off Georgia, 30°26’12”N, 80°12’18”W, R/V Dolphin, Sta OS03, March 11, 1980, 61m, 3. USNM E32773 , off Georgia, 33°48’54”N, 76°34’12”W, R/V Cape Hatteras, Sta OS05, Nov. 11, 1981, 79m, 7. USNM E33146, Florida, 28°30'N, 79°59'W to 28°29'N, 79°59'W, R/V Delaware II, Sta 0 62, April 23, 1983, 137.2m. USNM E33148, Florida, 56.5 Nautical Miles NE, 30°11'N, 80°15'W, R/V Delaware II, Sta 138, April 27, 1983, 64m, 4. USNM E33149, Florida, 68.5 Nautical miles E, 30°40'N, 80°07'W, R/V Delaware II, Sta 120, April 26,1983, 64m, 7. USNM E33150, Florida, 54.5 Nautical miles ENE, 30°00'N, 80°15'W, R/V Delaware II, Sta 142, April 27, 1983, 92m, 7. USNM E33151, Florida, 27 Nautical miles E, 27°50'N, 79°58'W, R/V Delaware II, Sta 30, April 21, 1983, 92m, 9. USNM E33152 , Florida, 66 Nautical miles E, 30°31'N, 80°10'W, R/V Delaware II, Sta 126, April 26, 1983, 64m, 7. USNM E33153 , Florida, 62 Nautical miles E, 30°20'N, 80°12'W, R/V Delaware II, Sta 132, April 27, 1983, 92m, 12. USNM E33154 , Florida, 65.5 Nautical miles E, 30°30'N, 80°09'W, R/V Delaware II, Sta 127, April 26, 1983, 92m, 38. SERTC 2207, 56 miles @ 127 degrees off Charleston Light, sc, 32º12.0'N, 78º58.5'W, 92 m, coll. GML Staff, April 12 1974. SERTC 2461, off Charleston Harbor, SC, 32º44.5'N, 79º27.0'W, 79 m, coll. MRRI Staff, April 1 1975. DML 1379, 33 º56.5'N, 75º24.5'W, R/V Eastward E-36-65, July 24, 1965, 94 m. DML 1381, 34 º07.5'N, 76º09.1'W, R/V Eastward E- 33-65, July 6, 1965, 112 m. DML 4349, 33 º48.9'N, 76º34.3'W, R/V Dan Moore, Sta BLM 65818170, August 11, 1981, 72 m. DML 4350, 33 º48.2'N, 76º34.4'W, R/V Dan Moore, Sta BLM 65818095, May 14, 1981, 116 m.

Diagnosis. Small form, 10–33mm long. Body flattened ventrally, forming distinctly recessed sole, bordered by double ring of tube feet. Color bright orange, fading to light brown in alcohol. Body wall rigid dorsally, invested with heavy imbricating plates, many possessing distinct tubercle or blunt spine. Mouth dorsal, concealed by 5 large valves with smaller valves at base. Anus dorsal, bordered by 2 circles of small scales. Ossicles in sole large perforated plates (130–260 μm) with numerous perforations.

Distribution. NC to E and W FL, Gulf of Mexico, Dominican Republic.

Habitat. Usually attached to hard substrates. 73– 243 m.

Remarks. This species is apparently common on suitable hard substrates. Psolus tuberculosus destituta Deichmann, 1930 , from off Barbados, differs from the typical subspecies in having fewer, larger dorsal plates and in lacking small scales at the base of the oral valves.

Figures

FIGURE 26. Psolus tuberculosus tuberculosus Théel, 1886 b. A, whole animal; B – D, knobbed plates from sole.