Holothura (Platyperona) insolita Cherbonnier, 1988: 101, fig. 41A-M; Samyn, 2003: 65.
Type data: EcHh 3548; Tuléar, Station 450 (Madagascar); depth not provided; coll. Thomassin, date not given; well preserved; poorly relaxed; ventro-longitudinal dissection; specimen eviscerated; generally in poor shape.
Anatomical description: 24 mm long; 7-10 mm wide; bivium arched; trivium flattened; mouth ventral; position of anus could not be determined; dorsal body wall grey beige; ventral body wall white to beige with transversal narrow brown bands anteriorly and minutes spots over the rest of the body; tentacle colour yellow-brown; dorsal appendages white; ventral tube feet white; dorsal appendages few, dispersed all over bivium; ventral tube feet few, dispersed over complete trivium; bivium and trivium not separated by a lateral fringe of appendages; body wall <1 mm thick, rough to the touch; tentacles small, number could not be determined; radial plates with concave posterior side, interradial plates as wide as radial ones; radial plates 1,5-2 x as long as interradial ones; number of tentacle ampullae could not be determined; single Polian vesicles observed; single contorted, stone canal observed; gonad was not observed; longitudinal muscles narrow, largely transparent, free at edges; Cuvierian tubules not observed.
Ossicle description: tentacles with few slender unbranched rods; dorsal and ventral body wall with tables with round disc perforated by one central hole and one ring of peripheral holes, with spire united by 1 to 2 crossbeams ending in a narrow crown, dorsal appendages with tables similar to those of the body wall, but with 1-3 cross-beams, and rods; ventral tube feet with tables similar to those of the body wall and with rod-like buttons; longitudinal muscles, respiratory tree and gut devoid of ossicles; ossicle assembalge of cloacal retractor muscles, gonad, cloaca and rete mirabile were not assessed.
Known distribution: only known from the type locality.
Taxonomic decision: nomen inquirendum (to be compared with Mesothuria spp.).
Remarks: Cherbonnier (1988) mentions that he found buttons in the anal region. Given the small size of the specimen, we however did not take tissue from that region. We can thus not confirm Cherbonnier’s observation. Actually, it is our impression that this species possibly does not belong to the genus Holothuria.
For original description click here.
{morfeo 45}