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Species Diversity
Abstract
The sea cucumber, Holothuria (Cystipus) dura Cherbonnier and Féral, 1981 , previously known only from the Philippines and New Caledonia, is newly recorded from Japanese waters; this is also the first record of the subgenus Cystipus from Japan. The two specimens described here were collected from the sublittoral bottoms near Hahajima island (126–261 m depth) and Okinoshima island (100–120 m depth). The morphology of the Japanese specimens is briefly described. In-situ photographs of the living individuals and scanning electron micrographs (SEM) of ossicles are provided for the first time for this species. The table ossicles in the dorsal body and in the papillae are highly modified fenestrated spheroids that have not been depicted previously. Some of the ventrolateral conical papillae, especially those in the middle part of the body, were bifurcated, perhaps indicative of increased surface area against the bottom for powerful propulsion while ’walking'. Some notes on locomotion are given, inferred from the in-situ photographs and the morphology of the ventrolateral conical papillae.
We would like to thank Fukada Salvage & Marine Works Co. Ltd., ROV Hakuyo and M/S Shin Nichi Maru for their assistance during the study. Appreciation also due to Mikihito Arai and Akito Ogawa for their kind support and technical assistance throughout the study. This study was financially supported by the National Museum of Nature and Science, Japan (Integrated Research of Biodiversity Hot Spots in Japan); the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (Core-to-Core Program: Research Education Network on Southeast Asian Coastal Ecosystems).
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