Holothuria (Mertensiothuria) artensis Cherbonnier & Féral, 1984: 678, fig. 9, pl. 1B.
Holothuria artensis; Samyn & Massin, 2003: 2496.
Type data: EcHh 3117; 11/7 S of Rat Island (New Caledonia); unknown depth; coll. Ph. Bouchet; microslides only
Anatomical description: cf. Cherbonnier & Féral, 1984.
Ossicle description: cf. Cherbonnier & Féral, 1984.
Known distribution: Ile Art, Archipel des Belep (New Caledonia).
Taxonomic decision: nomen dubium.
Remarks: Samyn & Massin (2003: 2496) noted that the specimen curated as the holotype of H. artensis can not be the type specimen because it clearly belongs to the genus Bohadschia. Given that only some unnumbered microslides of the holotype of H. artensis exist, we propose to assign nomen dubium status to the name and regard the illustration of the single specimen as the holotype, conform Art. 73.1.4.
On one of the original specimen labels, the name Holothuria ratiensis is put, which reflects the collection locality (Rat Island). However, the name H. ratiensis never entered the literature and is thus to be considered a nomen nudum.
For original description click here.
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