Abstract
As part of a study on holothurians from the southern Gulf of Mexico, some Holothuria mexicana Ludwig, 1875 were obtained for gut analysis. In two of them, a couple of eulimids were located inside the main tube of the respiratory tree. They were identified as Megadenus holothuricola Rosén, 1910, described from the Bahamas Islands, based on five specimens attached to the respiratory tree of H. mexicana. The original description was brief with few details, the type material is lost, and the species has not been found again. In this contribution, this species is confirmed for Campeche Bay, Mexico. The adult shell is globular to conical, transparent, thin, and fragile. Megadenus smithisp. nov. from Palmyra Atoll, Central Pacific is described based on adult specimens. It differs from its congeneric species in its more robust shell, the pseudopallium does not cover the shell, and its short and contracted proboscis forms a thick disc. Further research on these eulimid parasites is now complicated in the southern Gulf of Mexico because of the holothurian population collapse due to over-exploitation of the fishery.
Highlights
Eulimidae form a large group of parasitic snails infesting sea urchins, holothurians, starfish, and feather stars
The endoparasite M. holothuricola was found in only two holothurians
There were two adult specimens and one juvenile; all were immersed in the skin of the main tube of the respiratory tree (Fig. 1A)
Summary
Eulimidae form a large group of parasitic snails infesting sea urchins, holothurians, starfish, and feather stars. Some species live permanently attached to their echinoderm host; others attack their prey only temporarily and fall off if disturbed. In Mexico, there are no records so far for eulimid endoparasites in holothurians; one ectoparasitic species was reported as Melanella intermedia (Cantraine, 1835), originally described from the Mediterranean Sea, in the skin of Holothuria (Halodeima) grisea Selenka, 1867 and Holothuria glaberrima Selenka, 1867. Both holothurians were reported from Veracruz in the Gulf of Mexico (Caso 1968, 1971)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
