Antillesoma antillarum (Grübe & Oersted, 1858)

Phascolosoma antillarum Grübe & Oersted, 1858:117 –118. – Rice, 1975:40 –43.

Specimens collected:

CURA Ç AO: EBC – STA 301: 29/xii/87; Carambi Institute in front of laboratory; (1). STA 302: 29/xii/87; 12º08’ N, 68º59’ W; Piscadera Bay, swimming beach at entrance to bay; (5). STA 304: 30/xii/87; Caracas Bay, west side, higher wave energy near mouth; (3). STA 306: 31/xii/87: 12º 0 5’ N, 68º52’ W; Yacht club in Spaansche water; (1). STA 307: 1/i/88; Open water west of Princess beach hotel, south side of island; (2). STA 308: 1/i/88; Baibara Beach, east side of outlet to Spaansche water; (1).

CUBAGUA ISLAND: IHA – STA PC37E2: 16/xii/03; 10º 48’14.7’’ N, 64º 9’ 53.76’’ W; Hala Huevo Abajo, Rocks in Thalassia (1). STA PC41E4; 12/ii/04; 10º 47’59.58’’ N, 64º 10’ 59.88’’ W; Punta Los Trasmalleros, rocks in Thalassia bed; (1). STA PC42E5: 19/i/04; 10º 48’3.42’’ N, 64º 11’ 16.5’’ W; Punta El Olivito, rocks in Thalassia bed; (1). STA PC47E1: 6/iv/04; 10º 47’57.24’’ N, 64º 12’ 42.9’’ W; Zapato Alcatraz, sandy beach with rocks disperse (1)

CUMAN Á: EBC – STA 310: 4/i/88; 9º 16’ N, 64º 24’ W; Mochima bay, Playa Blanca; (1). STA 311: 5/i/88; Playa Colarada, west of Mochima; (12). STA 312: 6/i/88: 10º27’ N 68º09’W; at Galita near Playa Quetepe, east of Cumaná; (24). STA 313: 7/i/88: Playa Colarada, west of Mochima; (8).

LOS ROQUES ARCHIPELAGO: EBC – STA 315: 11/i/88; Isla Dos Mosquises Sur, Southwest corner, Acropora coral, live and dead; (1). STA 316: 11/i/88; Other island Northeast of Isla Dos Mosquises, in living reef, less massive corals, Isla Dos Mosquises Norte; (94). STA 317: 12/i/88; Isla Dos Mosquises Sur, Cayo off Southeast corner in outer Acropora reef; (2). STA 318: 12/i/88; Island of conche shells 5 minutes off Southwest corner of Isla Dos Mosquises; (1).

Remarks. Antillesoma antillarum is an unusual phascolosomatid in that it lacks hooks and has digitiform contractile vessel villi on the esophagus. It is recognizable by the usually dense covering of large dark papillae which are especially numerous in the anal region.

Distribution. Antillesoma antillarum is a common inhabitant of crevices in rocks and corals. It is considered cosmopolitan in the tropics and subtropics. In the western Atlantic and Caribbean it has been reported from Florida (USA) to Brazil (Cutler, 1994). Rice erroneously reported that Grube and Oersted (1859) and Gerould (1913) had collected this species from Venezuelan waters. Actually, Gerould (1913) cited an undocumented report of this species supposedly taken “off the adjacent mainland of Colombia, Sabanilla and Venezuela ” during the Albatross cruise of 1884.