Hemiocnus insolens ( Théel, 1886 )

Thandar, Ahmed S., 2018, On some miscellaneous sea cucumbers (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) in the collections of the South African Museum with three new species, Zootaxa 4532 (1), pp. 57-85 : 58-59

Hemiocnus insolens ( Théel, 1886)

( Figure 1 )

Cucumaria insolens Théel, 1886: 70 , pl. 4, fig. 5; Cherbonnier, 1952: 480, pl. 39, figs. 1–23.

Pseudocnella insolens Thandar, 1987:289 , figs. 1a, 2, 5a–c; 1991: 129, fig. 1D; 1992 (synonymy before 1992); 2008:22; Thandar & Rambaran 2015:58 , fig. 10.

Hemiocnus insolens Mjobo & Thandar 2016:157 .

Diagnosis (see Théel 1886, Cherbonnier 1952).

Material examined. A23068 -0821054,AFR-SAMC-A 090907, South Coast Demersal Trawl , 89 m, 12 IV 2004, 34° 04’, 23° 51’, 60 spec; SAM-A 090908 , AFR-A24725-0933455, South Coast Demersal Trawl , 100 m, 34° 41.7’, 22° 9.17’, 28 IV 2005, 12 spec; SAMC-A 090909 , AFR-7147-063-036, Port Elizabeth , Algoa Bay, 38 m, 18 V 1988, 2 spec; SAMC-A 090910 , Kalk Bay, VII 1912, K. H. Barnard, 1 spec .

Distribution (after Thandar 2008) Luderitz ( Namibia) to Port Elizabeth, 0– 110 m.

Remarks. This well-known southern African south and west coast species was transferred from the genus Pseudocnella Thandar, 1987 to Hemiocnus by Mjobo & Thandar (2016), erected to accommodate the type species Pseudocnella syracusanus ( Grube 1840) from the Mediterranean and a new Mediterranean species, H. rubrobrunneus from Tunisia. Some pertinent features of H. insolens were discussed by Thandar (2008), who commented on several morphs separated by Natasen Moodley (2000) on the basis of anal ossicles. These morphs have yet to be confirmed by gene sequencing as the species appears to be highly polymorphorphic with several colour morphs which defy separation by morphology alone.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Hemiocnus insolens (Théel, 1886). AFR-SAMC-A090907. A. Specimen (entire); B. Rods from tentacles; C. Anal surface ossicles; D. Introvert ossicles; E. Plates from body wall; F. Buttons from body wall; G. Baskets from body wall; H. Rods from body wall.