Holothuria (Semperothuria) surinamensis Ludwig, 1875

Figure 4, Table 2

Holothuria surinamensis Ludwig, 1875: 35; Deichmann, 1926: 12; Deichmann, 1930: 63 –64.

Holothuria tanguens Semper, 1868: 87.

Holothuria subditira Selenka, 1867: 338.

Halodeima surinamensis. — Cherbonnier, 1951: 19 –20.

Semperothuria surinamensis. — Deichmann, 1958: 303; Tommasi, 1969: 6.

Holothuria (Semperothuria) surinamensis.— Rowe, 1969: 135 –136; Oliveira & Christoffersen, 2012: 768 –769.

Material examined. Ponta Verde Reef, Maceió, AL, Brazil, 5 spec. (UFPB.ECH-1984); Francês Beach, Marechal Deodoro, AL, Brazil, 1 spec. (UFPB.ECH-2071); Viçosa Reef, Abrolhos, BA, Brazil, 1 spec. (EQMN-1784).

Type locality. Surinam (Ludwig 1875).

Diagnosis. See Pawson et al. (2010: 38).

Description. We analyzed 7 specimens, measuring between 70–120 mm long and 20–25 mm wide. Body cylindrical and elongate (Fig. 4 A). Tegument smooth, not very thick. Mouth terminal, with 12 peltate tentacles, and surrounded by a collar of short papillae. Short tube feet form a sole ventrally. Small dorsal papillae irregularly dispersed, more abundant laterally. Tube feet in four rows in each ventral radius. On dorsal side, small papillae sparsely arranged in one row in each radius, and irregularly in the interradii. In small species, tube feet grouped into 2 series of three rows in the ventral radii, fewer in the interambulacral areas. Dorsally, small papillae grouped into one to two rows along the radii. Anus ventral, with 10 or more small papillae. Color in alcohol varies from light to dark brown. Tentacles dark brown distally, with light yellow peduncle. Tube feet and papillae light yellow.

Calcareous ring simple, robust. Radial plates square-shaped, about 2.5 mm high and wide, with a central notch, slightly dentate margin and base with a central invagination. Interradial plates smaller, triangular-shaped, 1.5 mm high and 2 mm wide, with a slight incision at the base, united to radial plates for up to half of their length (Fig. 4 B). Single polian vesicle, a slightly elongate stone canal and a rounded madreporite. Respiratory trees branched, reaching to about half of the body, with short and thick branches. In small specimens the trees seem to occupy less space, with shorter branches. Longitudinal muscles well developed, not divided. Gonads in a single tuft, elongated, about 1/4 of length, divided at least once, not filling the coelom. Tables of body wall with 4 pillars, about 30 µm in diameter and 40 µm high, with about 16 ramifications at apex of spire and 2 for each pillar (Fig. 4 D); disc reduced, with about three ramifications in the margin, and a central hole. Perforated plates about 120 µm long and 40 µm wide (Fig. 4 E), perforated rods about 120 µm long and 40 µm wide (Fig. 4 F), and curved rods about 100 µm long, slightly wrinkled (Fig. 4 C). Tube feet with perforated plates, about 100 µm long; perforated rods about 100 µm long and with endplate. Tentacles with simple rods. Ventral ossicles larger than those from the dorsal surface (Tab. 2).

Geographical distribution. United States (Florida, Gulf of Mexico), Antilles (Puerto Rico), Colombia, Venezuela, Suriname, and Brazil (Alagoas, Bahia, Rio de Janeiro) (Tommasi 1969, Hendler et al. 1995). It is found in the intertidal zone.

Comments. According to Deichmann (1926) the tables of young specimens have well developed discs with a marginal ring of holes, while adults have a reduced disc, with a single hole. This is the only species of the subgenus recorded for the Western Atlantic. Recently the occurrence of H. (S.) surinamensis was confirmed for northeast Brazil (Oliveira & Christoffersen 2012).

Ecological note. The specimens occur in reefs with hermatypic corals and coralligenous algae (Sarmento & Correia 2002), gravel and under rocks.