Halodeima stocki Cherbonier, 1964: 202, fig. 1a-z.
Holothuria (Halodeima) stocki; Rowe, 1969: 138.
Type data: EcHh 404; off Parguera, 0,3 miles, Cayo caracolés (Puerto Rico); 30 m depth; coll. J.H. Stock; 1963; well preserved; poorly relaxed; ventro-longitudinal section; part of posterior end cut away.
Anatomical description: 63 mm long; 7.5-9 mm wide; bivium could not be discerned from trivium; complete body wall brownish, mottled with beige; tentacle color could not be determined; dorsal appendages could not be determined; ventral tube feet white to beige; spreading of dorsal and ventral appendages could not be assessed; body wall 1-4 mm thick, rough to the touch; number of tentacles could not be determined; structure of the calcareous ring and attached structures could not be determined; gonad not observed; longitudinal muscles bifid, wide and flat, free at part of edges; respiratory trees longer than half of body length; cloaca 4 mm long; Cuvierian tubules absent.
Ossicle description: tentacles with samll and large rods, smooth to slightly rugose distally; dorsal body wall with tables with reduced disc, four pillars united by a single cross beam and ending in a crown in the form of a Maltese cross; ossicle assemblage of ventral body wall was not assessed; ossicle assemblage of dorsal appendages was not assessed; ventral tube feet with rods perforated distally, tables similar to those from the body wall and endplate; longitudinal and cloacal retractor muscles, cloaca, respiratory tree and gut devoid of ossicles; ossicle assemblage of gonad and rete mirabile not assessed.
Known distribution: Cayo caracolés (Puerto Rico).
Taxonomic decision: valid species belonging to the genus Holothuria, subgenus Halodeima (confirmed after examination of both syntypes).
Remarks: this is the longest of the two syntypes; given that its calcareous ring and its attached structures have been cut away, it is best to consider it non name-bearing, and hence designate it as paralectotype.
For original description click here.
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