Holothuria (Holothuria) dakarensis Panning, 1939

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 : 37-38

Holothuria (Holothuria) dakarensis Panning, 1939

Figure 30

Holothuria stellati dakarensis Panning, 1939

Holothuria (Holothuria) dakarensis .—Pawson and Shirley, 1977: 915, Fig.1 .

Material examined. USNM E29683, off Georgia, 31°23’42”N, 80°53’00”W, R/VOregon, Sta IS02, April 28, 1981, 16m. USNM E29549, off Georgia, 31°23’24”N, 80°53’24”W, R/VOregon, Sta IS02, March 4, 1981, 17m. USNM E32249, off N.C., 33°32’06”N, 77°25’00”W, R/VBluefin, Sta MS04, Feb. 7, 1981, 35m. USNM E32238, off Georgia, 31°23’30”N, 80°53’12”W, R/VDolphin, Sta IS02, Jan. 28, 1981, 16m. DML 3112, 34 º20'N, 76º53.3'W, R/V Eastward E-10-71, May 24, 1971, 25 m.

Diagnosis. Length up to 14 cm. Color in life light brown, ventral side paler. Body approximately cylindrical, mouth and anus terminal. Dorsal surface conspicuously different from ventral, with numerous evenly scattered conical papillae. Dorsolaterally, few papillae (approximately 10 on each side) conspicuously larger than others. Ventral feet numerous, may aggregate into radii in bands 4–6 tube feet wide. Body wall relatively thin, leatherly, rough to touch due to numerous ossicles. Ossicles in body wall tables (68–86µm) and buttons (95–126µm)

Distribution. NC, GA, TX, Gulf of Mexico, Senegal, Angola.

Habitat. Prefers to live near or under rocks in sand/mud in 10– 54m.

Remarks. This amphi-Atlantic species was found to be common in rocky habitats at Seven and One-Half Fathom Reef, off Padre Island, Texas (Pawson & Shirley, 1977), and it is apparently fairly common in offshore habitats in the current study area.

Figures

FIGURE 30. Holothuria (Holothuria) dakarensis Panning, 1939. A, whole animal; B, C, tables in top and lateral view; D, button.

FIGURE 1. A holothurian, Order Dendrochirotida. At left, ten branching tentacles surround the mouth. At the right extremity of the body is the anus. Between oral end and anus are five rows of tube feet defining the radii. A few feet are scattered in the interradii. After Hendler et al., 1995.