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

By

Borrero-Pérez, Giomar Helena
Vanegas-González, Maria

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2019

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

893

Pages

1--19

Subjects

16S , Cabo Marzo , Chocó , COI , Colombia , Echinodermata , Gulf of Cupica , Gulf of Tribugá , Holothuroidea , morros , mtDNA , riscales , rocky reefs

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/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.