Holothuria (Theelothuria) viridia Cherbonnier, 1986: 247, fig. 1A-Q; Samyn 2003: 78.
Type data: EcHh 3543; Maribago, Mactan Island, Cébu (Philippines); coll. Ph. Bouchet, 12.VI.1985 (at night); 5-8 m depth; well preserved; well relaxed; ventro-longitudinal dissection; calcareous ring and attached structures removed from specimen.
Anatomical description: 132 mm long; 27-50 mm wide; bivium arched; trivium distinctly flattened; mouth ventral; anus terminal; dorsal body wall deep grey; ventral body wall white; tentacles white-beige; ventral tube feet brown-black; dorsal appendages black circled with white; dorsal appendages spread regularly over complete bivium; ventral tube feet spread regularly over trivium; bivium and trivium not separated by lateral fringe of appendages; body wall 9 mm thick, smooth to the touch; 20 tentacles counted (one cut away); radial plates with slight posterior notch; interradial plates 2 times narrower than radial plates; radial plates 1,5-2 times as long as interradial plates; number of tentacle ampullae could not be determined; number of Polian vesicles could not be determined; no stone canals observed; gonad not observed; longitudinal muscles bifid, wide, cylindrical, attached at edges; respiratory tree longer than 1/2 body length; cloaca 25 mm long; Cuvierian tubules absent.
Ossicle description: tentacles with curved spiny rods, occassionally perforated distally; dorsal and ventral body wall with tables with disc perforated by four central holes and 1-2 rings of peripheral holes, spiny rim, 4 pillars, 1-2 cross beams ending in a narrow spiny crown and very nodulouse buttons perforated by up to 6 pairs of holes; dorsal and ventral appendages with tables as in body wall and with large perforated-plate like rods widened and perforated distally and centrally; longitudinal and cloacal retractor muscles, cloaca and gut devoid of ossicles; ossicle assemblage of gonad and rete mirabile was not assessed.
Known distribution: only known from the type locality.
Taxonomic decision: junior subjective synonym of H. turriscelsa Cherbonnier, 1980 (taxonomic decision based upon re-examination of the holotypes of both species and other voucher specimens)
Remarks: it is remarkable that Cherbonnier (1986) compared his H. viridia with H. foresti and H. asperita and NOT with H. turriscelsa from which it does not differ apart from the fact that H. turriscelsa possesses Cuvierian tubules. This absence of Cuvierian tubules in H. viridia is however an artefact caused by the collectors as Cherbonnier clearly states that the animal has been completely eviscerated by the collectors in order to facilitate the search for eventual parasites.
For original description click here.
{morfeo 66}