Holothuria (Mertensiothuria) viridiaurantia sp. nov. (Holothuriida, Holothuriidae), a new sea cucumber from the Eastern Pacific Ocean revealed by morphology and DNA barcoding.

Giomar Helena Borrero-Pérez,María Juliana Vanegas-González

doi:10.3897/zookeys.893.36013

Abstract

Holothuria (Mertensiothuria) viridiaurantiasp. nov. is described based on specimens from rocky reefs of northern Chocó in the Colombian Pacific Ocean; however, it also occurs along the Eastern Pacific Ocean from Mexico and Panama. Although specimens from Mexico and Panama were previously identified as Holothuria (Mertensiothuria) hilla Lesson, 1830 the new species is easily distinguished morphologically and via mtDNA. In terms of morphology, the species can be identified by its olive-green background and white-orange papillae and tentacles, larger tentacles with deep indentations and also by larger buttons on the dorsal and ventral body wall, papillae and tube feet; large, thick and rough tentacle rods, and the absence of ossicles in the longitudinal muscles. The new species is included in the subgenus Mertensiothuria considering molecular evidence.

Highlights

The family Holothuriidae Ludwig, 1894 currently includes 211 valid species, with the genus Holothuria Linnaeus, 1867 being the most diverse, containing 165 formally described species (WoRMS 2019a)
The specimens reviewed were collected as part of the project “Riscales”, developed by the Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras – INVEMAR, seeking to characterise the biodiversity of the rocky reefs located in northern Chocó in the Colombian Pacific Ocean
These ecosystems are important for regional fisheries and conservation (Díaz-Fahrenberger et al 2016)

Summary

Introduction

The family Holothuriidae Ludwig, 1894 currently includes 211 valid species, with the genus Holothuria Linnaeus, 1867 being the most diverse, containing 165 formally described species (WoRMS 2019a). Samyn and Massin (2003) removed four species from the subgenus either because of the absence of ossicles in the longitudinal muscles (Holothuria arenacava Samyn et al, 2001 and Holothuria platei Ludwig, 1898) or because this characteristic was unknown (Holothuria artensis Cherbonnier & Féral, 1984 and Holothuria exilis Koehler & Vaney, 1908). According to WoRMS (2019b), Mertensiothuria currently includes the same six species accepted by Samyn and Massin (2003), H. The subgenus includes three more species: H. (M.) isuga Mitsukuri, 1912, H. (M.) arenacava and H. (M.) artensis; the last two species excluded in the revision by Samyn and Massin (2003) have been transferred by WoRMS but with no reference

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