New Holothuria species from Australia (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea: Holothuriidae), with comments on the origin of deep and cool holothuriids

P. Mark O’Loughlin, Gustav Paulay, Didier Vandenspiegel and Yves Samyn

Memoirs of Museum Victoria Vol 64 p. 35–52 (2007)

DOI
http://doi.org/10.24199/j.mmv.2007.64.5

Abstract

Two aspidochirotid species, new to science, from the continental slope of southern Australia are described: Holothuria (Panningothuria) austrinabassa O’Loughlin sp. nov. and Holothuria (Halodeima) nigralutea O’Loughlin sp. nov. The first represents the southernmost documented holothuriid, and is the sister species of the northernmost holothuriid species Holothuria (Panningothuria) forskali Delle Chiaje. The second is a very recent offshoot of the wide-ranging Indo-west Pacific Holothuria (Halodeima) edulis Lesson. Morphological and molecular genetic differences between these species pairs are detailed. Holothuria (Halodeima) signata Ludwig is raised out of synonymy with H. edulis. A lectotype for Holothuria (Halodeima) signata Ludwig is designated. The status of the subgenera Panningothuria Rowe and Halodeima Pearson is discussed. The occurrence of multiple madreporites in Halodeima is discussed.

Citation

O'Loughlin, P.M., Paulay, G., Vandenspiegel, D. & Samyn, Y., 2007. New Holothuria species from Australia (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea: Holothuriidae), with comments on the origin of deep and cool holothuriids. Memoirs of Museum Victoria 64: 35-52. http://doi.org/10.24199/j.mmv.2007.64.5

PUBLICATION DATE: 31 DECEMBER 2007

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