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Erroneous— Mesothuria intestinalis (Ascanius, 1805) Reports for the Azores: Mesothuria intestinalis (Ascanius, 1805) — Mortensen 1927a: 381; Nobre 1938: 150–152; Deichmann 1954: 385–386; Tortonese 1965: 69–70, fig. 26; Pérez-Ruzafa et al. 1992b: 144; Micael & Costa 2010: 323; Micael et al. 2012: 4. Type locality: Norway. See: Gebruk et al. (2012: 291–300, figs. 1, 9C–D). Occurrence: Mediterranean Sea and North Atlantic, from the Caribbean waters eastwards to the Gulf of Guinea, north to Scandinavian waters, including Canaries (Gebruk et al. 2012). Depth: 20– 2,480 m, infralitoral depths tend to be restricted to higher latitudes (Gebruk et al. 2012). Habitat: muddy substrates, usually covers itself with shell fragments and other bottom material (Mortensen 1927a). Larval stage: probably direct or lecithotrophic; hermaphroditic (Mortensen 1927a). Remarks: historically, reports of M. intestinalis and M. verrilli are intermingled. For example, Hérouard (1902) considered M. verrilli as just a variety of M. intestinalis, and placed the material collected by Princesse Alice under the later. Hérouard decision led subsequent bibliography (e.g., Mortensen 1927a; Nobre 1938) to include M. intestinalis in the Azorean fauna, disregarding the specific value of the variety. Later, Hérouard (1923) reconsidered M. verrilli as distinct species, an ‘abyssal representative’ of M. intestinalis. On reviewing M. verrilli historical material from the NE Atlantic (including the material taken by Talisman in Azorean waters), Gebruk et al. (2012) discovered a second species, M. milleri. Additionally, by studying ontological changes in M. milleri Gebruk recognized his new species in the M. verrilli descriptions by Marenzeller (1893) and Hérouard (1902, 1923). Coincidently, such age dependent variation is very close as well of what is known for M. intestinalis, leading to the possibility of both species being present among the material collected in the Azores by Princesse Alice and Hirondelle. Conversely, Gebruk et al. (2012) also remarked that M. intestinalis is easily distinguished from other Mesothuria species by having a sequential hermaphrodite gonad. This particularity was acknowledged by Hérouard (1923) at the time and used this diagnosing character to further substantiate the promotion of M. verrilli to a distinct species. Marenzeller (1893) described Hirondelle ’s specimens as gonochoristic. Thus, the presence of M. intestinalis is still to be confirmed in the Azores in spite of its widespread distribution in the North Atlantic (see remarks under M. milleri)., Published as part of Madeira, Patrícia, Kroh, Andreas, Cordeiro, Ricardo, De, António M., Martins, Frias & Ávila, Sérgio P., 2019, The Echinoderm Fauna of the Azores (NE Atlantic Ocean), pp. 1-231 in Zootaxa 4639 (1) on page 177, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4639.1, http://zenodo.org/record/3342161, {"references":["Ascanius, P. (1805) Icones Rerum Naturalium, ou figures enluminees d'histoire naturelle du Nord. Vol. 5. M ˆ ller et fils, Copenhagen, 8 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 156942","Mortensen, T. (1927 a) Handbook of the echinoderms of the British Isles. Oxford University Press, viii + 471 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 6841","Nobre, A. (1938) Equinodermes de Portugal. 3 rd Edition. Companhia Editora do Minho, Barcelos, 215 pp.","Deichmann, E. (1954) The Holothurians of the Gulf of Mexico. Bulletin of the U. S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, 89, 381 - 410.","Tortonese, E. (1965) Fauna D'Italia-Echinodermata. Edizioni Calderini, Bologna, 422 pp.","Perez-Ruzafa, A., Marcos, C. & Bacallado, J. J. (1992 b) Holoturias (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) de las Islas Canarias: I. Consideraciones Generales y Orden Aspidochirotida. Revista de la Academia Canaria de Ciencias, 4 (3 - 4), 139 - 162.","Micael, J. & Costa A. C. (2010) Echinodermata. In: Borges, P. A. V., Costa, A., Cunha, R., Gabriel, R., Goncalves, V., Martins, A. F., Melo, I., Parente, M., Raposeiro, P., Rodrigues, P., Santos, R. S., Silva, L., Vieira, P. & Vieira, V. (Eds.), A list of the terrestrial and marine biota from the Azores. Principia, Oeiras, pp. 321 - 323.","Micael, J., Alves, M. J., Jones, M. B. & Costa, A. C. (2012) Diversity of shallow-water asteroids (Echinodermata) in the Azorean Archipelago. Marine Biodiversity Records, 5, e 49. https: // doi. org / 10.1017 / S 1755267211000534","Gebruk, A. V., Solis-Marin, F. A., Billett, D. S. M., Rogacheva, A. V. & Tyler, P. A. (2012) Review of the genus Zygothuria Perrier, 1898 and the Atlantic group of species of the genus Mesothuria Ludwig, 1894 (Synallactidae: Holothuroidea) with description of the new species Mesothuria milleri sp. nov. Journal of Natural History, 46 (5 - 6), 265 - 348. https: // doi. org / 10.1080 / 00222933.2011.638423","Herouard, E. (1902) Holothuries Provenant Des Campagnes De La Princesse-Alice (1892 - 1897). Reisultats des campagnes scientifiques accomplies sur son yacht, Fasc. 21, 1 - 62.","Herouard, E. (1923) Holothuries provenant des campagnes des yachts Princesse-Alice et Hirondelle ii. (1898 - 1915). Resultats Campagnes Scientifiques Prince de Monaco, 66, 1 - 161.","Marenzeller, E. von (1893) Contribution a l'etude des Holothuries de l'Atlantique N'ord (Golfe de Gascogne, Iles Acores). Resultats Campagnes Scientifiques du Prince de Monaco, 6, 1 - 32. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 11304"]}

Mesothuria murrayi Théel, 1886a Reports for the Azores: Mesothuria murrayi (Théel, 1886) —p.p.? $ Hérouard 1902: 23–24; García-Diez et al. 2005: 51; $ Gebruk 2012: 303–307, fig. 11. Type locality: Juan Fernandez (33°42’S, 78°18’W), Pacific. See: Théel (1886a: 185, pl. 10, figs. 16–18, as Holothuria murrayi); Gebruk (2012). Occurrence: cosmopolitan, in the Atlantic and Pacific; in the Atlantic reliable records from off Florida and the Azores (Gebruk 2012). Depth: 245– 6,650 m (AZO:? 1,660–1,940 m; Gebruk (2012). Habitat: soft substrate (clay to ooze; Théel 1886a, Hansen 1975). Remarks: Hérouard (1902) reported two individuals of M. murrayi from the archipelago, collected by Princesse Alice (sta 719: 39°11’N, 30°24’15”W, 1,600 m). Later, Deichmann (1930) re-examined one of the specimens and assigned it to a different species, M. rugosa (see below). Deichmann believed that M. murrayi was restricted to the Pacific waters and all Atlantic material assigned to this species would prove to be either M. maroccana or M. rugosa. However, Gebruk (2012) has recently identified M. rugosa in the Atlantic, including a specimen collected by Princesse Alice in the Azores (sta 863: 39°22’00”N, 26°55’45”W), not listed in Hérouard’s (1902) report. Nevertheless, the complex taxonomy of M. murrayi and other closely related species such as M. maroccana and M. rugosa shows that this group of species is in need of a thorough revision., Published as part of Madeira, Patrícia, Kroh, Andreas, Cordeiro, Ricardo, De, António M., Martins, Frias & Ávila, Sérgio P., 2019, The Echinoderm Fauna of the Azores (NE Atlantic Ocean), pp. 1-231 in Zootaxa 4639 (1) on page 155, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4639.1, http://zenodo.org/record/3342161, {"references":["Theel, H. (1886 a) Report on the Holothuroidea dredged by H. M. S. Challenger during the years 1873 - 76. Part II. Challenger Reports, Zoology, 14 (39), 1 - 290.","Herouard, E. (1902) Holothuries Provenant Des Campagnes De La Princesse-Alice (1892 - 1897). Reisultats des campagnes scientifiques accomplies sur son yacht, Fasc. 21, 1 - 62.","Garcia-Diez, C., Porteiro, F. M., Meirinho, A., Cardigos, F. & Tempera, F. (2005) Taxonomic review of selected invertebrate groups collected during the Campaigns of the Prince Albert I of Monaco in the Azorean waters. Arquipelago. Life and Marine Sciences, 22 A, 35 - 59.","Gebruk, A. V., Solis-Marin, F. A., Billett, D. S. M., Rogacheva, A. V. & Tyler, P. A. (2012) Review of the genus Zygothuria Perrier, 1898 and the Atlantic group of species of the genus Mesothuria Ludwig, 1894 (Synallactidae: Holothuroidea) with description of the new species Mesothuria milleri sp. nov. Journal of Natural History, 46 (5 - 6), 265 - 348. https: // doi. org / 10.1080 / 00222933.2011.638423","Hansen, B. (1975) Systematics and biology of the deep-sea holothurians: Elasipoda. Galathea report: scientific results of the Danish deep-sea expedition round the world 1950 - 1952. Galathea, 13, 1 - 262.","Deichmann, E. (1930) The Holothurians of the Western Part of the Atlantic Ocean. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zo ˆ logy at Harvard College, 71, 43 - 236."]}

Madeira, Patrícia, Kroh, Andreas, Cordeiro, Ricardo, De, António M., Martins, Frias, Ávila, Sérgio P. (2019): The Echinoderm Fauna of the Azores (NE Atlantic Ocean). Zootaxa 4639 (1): 1-231, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4639.1

Zygothuria lactea (Théel, 1886a) Reports for the Azores: Holothuria lactea $ Théel, 1886a: 183–184, pl. 10, figs. 9, 15; Mesothuria lactea Théel, 1886 a— $ Hérouard 1902: 21–23, pl. 1, figs. 17–19, 1923: 13–15, pl. 4, figs. 1–3; Mortensen 1927a: 382–383, figs. 226–227; Nobre 1938: 152–153; García-Diez et al. 2005: 51; Zygothuria (Holothuria) lactea Théel, 1886 a—Perrier 1902: 322–327, pl. 17, figs. 1–10; Mesothuria (Zygothuria) lactea (Théel, 1886) — Benavides-Serrato et al. 2012: 208–209; Zygothuria lactea (Théel, 1886) — $ Gebruk 2012: 310–321, figs. 13, 14. Type locality: off New Zealand, Pacific (37°34’S, 179°22’W). See: Théel (1886a); Benavides-Serrato et al. (2012); Gebruk et al. (2012). Occurrence: cosmopolitan, in the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian and Southern Oceans; in the west Atlantic reported from New England to the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, in the east reported from Iceland eastwards from the Rockall Trough south to NW Africa, including the Azores, Madeira, Canaries and Cape Verde (Perrier 1902, Hérouard 1923, Gebruk et al. 2012); reported elsewhere in the South Atlantic (25°27’S, 6°10’W; Gebruk et al. 2012). Depth: 484– 5,100 m (Benavides-Serrato et al. 2012); AZO: 1,165 –2,102 m (Hérouard 1902). Habitat: soft sediments, muddy sand, mud to clay (Hérouard 1902). Larval stage: lecithotrophic (Gebruk et al. 2012). Remarks: the true geographical distribution and depth range of Zygothuria lactea is unknown, particularly in the Western Atlantic, given that historically this species was confused with other closely related species [ e.g., Z. oxysclera (Perrier, 1899) , see Gebruk et al. 2012]. In the Azores, Z. lactea is extremely abundant between 1,200 and 2,000 m (Hérouard 1902)., Published as part of Madeira, Patrícia, Kroh, Andreas, Cordeiro, Ricardo, De, António M., Martins, Frias & Ávila, Sérgio P., 2019, The Echinoderm Fauna of the Azores (NE Atlantic Ocean), pp. 1-231 in Zootaxa 4639 (1) on page 156, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4639.1, http://zenodo.org/record/3342161, {"references":["Theel, H. (1886 a) Report on the Holothuroidea dredged by H. M. S. Challenger during the years 1873 - 76. Part II. Challenger Reports, Zoology, 14 (39), 1 - 290.","Herouard, E. (1902) Holothuries Provenant Des Campagnes De La Princesse-Alice (1892 - 1897). Reisultats des campagnes scientifiques accomplies sur son yacht, Fasc. 21, 1 - 62.","Mortensen, T. (1927 a) Handbook of the echinoderms of the British Isles. Oxford University Press, viii + 471 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 6841","Nobre, A. (1938) Equinodermes de Portugal. 3 rd Edition. Companhia Editora do Minho, Barcelos, 215 pp.","Garcia-Diez, C., Porteiro, F. M., Meirinho, A., Cardigos, F. & Tempera, F. (2005) Taxonomic review of selected invertebrate groups collected during the Campaigns of the Prince Albert I of Monaco in the Azorean waters. Arquipelago. Life and Marine Sciences, 22 A, 35 - 59.","Benavides-Serrato, M., Borrero-Perez, G. H. & Diaz-Sanchez, C. M. (2012) Equinodermos del Caribe colombiano II: Echinoidea y Holothuroidea. Vol. 30. Serie de Publicaciones Especiales de Invemar, Santa Marta, 250 pp.","Gebruk, A. V., Solis-Marin, F. A., Billett, D. S. M., Rogacheva, A. V. & Tyler, P. A. (2012) Review of the genus Zygothuria Perrier, 1898 and the Atlantic group of species of the genus Mesothuria Ludwig, 1894 (Synallactidae: Holothuroidea) with description of the new species Mesothuria milleri sp. nov. Journal of Natural History, 46 (5 - 6), 265 - 348. https: // doi. org / 10.1080 / 00222933.2011.638423","Perrier, R. (1902) Holothuries. In: Expeditions Scientifiques du Travailleur et du Talisman pendant les Annees 1880, 1881, 1882, 1883. Ouvrage publie sous les auspices du ministere de l'instruction publique sous la direction de A. Milne-Edwards de 1888 a 1890 et continue par E. Perrier. Vol. 7. Masson et Cie, Editeurs, Paris, pp. 273 - 554.","Herouard, E. (1923) Holothuries provenant des campagnes des yachts Princesse-Alice et Hirondelle ii. (1898 - 1915). Resultats Campagnes Scientifiques Prince de Monaco, 66, 1 - 161.","Perrier, R. (1899) Diagnose des especes nouvelles d'Holothuries draguees par le du Travailleur et le Talisman. Deuxieme note. Bulletin Museum National Histoire Naturelle, Paris, 5, 299 - 303. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. part. 6292"]}

Family: Mesothuriidae Mesothuria intestinalis (Ascanius, 1805), Published as part of Despalatovi��, Marija, Cvitkovi��, Ivan & ��uljevi��, Ante, 2017, Checklist of the echinoderm fauna of the Adriatic Sea, pp. 101-116 in Zootaxa 4353 (1) on page 108, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4353.1.6, http://zenodo.org/record/1064560

Mesothuria oktaknemus Sluiter, 1901 (Fig. 11 A ��� D) Mesothuria oktaknemus Sluiter, 1901; F��ral & Cherbonnier, 1981: 373,fig. 10A ��� J. Mesothuria (Allantis) oktaknemus; Heding, 1940: 333. Material examined. Non-type material: IE-2007-754(2) (1 specimen, sampled around Majumga); IE-2007-760 (1 specimen, collected between Majunga & Cape Saint-Andr��); IE-2007-777 (1 specimen, around Majumga); IE 2007-778(4) (3 specimens, collected around Majumga); IE-2007-804 (3 specimens, sampled between Majunga & Cape Saint-Andr��). Remarks. The present record extends the distribution of this species from the Indo-West Pacific Ocean to the East Indian Ocean., Published as part of Samyn, Yves & Vandenspiegel, Didier, 2016, Sublittoral and bathyal sea cucumbers (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) from the Northern Mozambique Channel with description of six new species, pp. 451-497 in Zootaxa 4196 (4) on page 469, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4196.4.1, http://zenodo.org/record/168273, {"references":["Sluiter C. P. (1901) Die Holothurien der Siboga-Expedition. Siboga - Expeditie. Monograph, 44, 1 - 142,11 plates.","Heding, S. G. (1940) Die Holothurien der Deutchsen Tiefsee Expedition II. Aspidochirote und Elasipod Formen. Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse der Deutschen Tiefsee Expedition auf dem Damfer Valdivia 1898 - 1899, 24, 317 - 375."]}

Mesothuria parva (Th��el, 1886) (Fig. 13 A ��� B) Holothuria murrayi var. parva Th��el, 1886: 186, pl. 9, fig. 2, pl 16, figs 4 & 5 Mesothuria parva; Cherbonnier & F��ral, 1981 (records); Thandar 1992: 161, figs 1 & 6A Mesothuria deani Mitsikuri, 1912: 40 ��� 42, textfig. 9 Material examined. Non-type material: IE-2007-813 (3 specimens, sampled in front of Nazendry Bay); IE-2007- 775 (3 specimens, collected in front of Nazendry Bay) Remarks. This well-known species is a new record for Madagascar. The closest previous record is from Sodwana Bay in South Africa (Thandar, 1992)., Published as part of Samyn, Yves & Vandenspiegel, Didier, 2016, Sublittoral and bathyal sea cucumbers (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) from the Northern Mozambique Channel with description of six new species, pp. 451-497 in Zootaxa 4196 (4) on page 471, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4196.4.1, http://zenodo.org/record/168273, {"references":["Theel, H. (1886) Holothuroidea. Part 2. Report of the Scientific Results of the Voyage of the \" Challenger \" (Zoology), 39, 1 - 290, 16 plates.","Thandar, A. S. (1992) The South African Museum's Meiring Naude Cruises. Part 18. Holothuroidea. Annals of the South African Museum, 10, 159 - 180.","Mitsikuri, K. (1912) Studies on actinopodous Holothurioidea. Journal of the College of Science, Imperial University of Tokyo, 39, 1 - 284, 8 plates."]}

Zygothuria marginata (Sluiter, 1901) (Fig. 14 A ��� C) Mesothuria marginata Sluiter, 1901: 26, pl 8, fig. 4; Liao, 1997: 75, fig. 40. Mesothuria (Monothuria) marginata; Heding, 1940: 341, textfig. 8. Zygothuria marginata; Perrier 1902: 331; Gebruk et al. 2012: 326, fig. 18. Material examined. Non-type material: IE-2007-778(2) (2 specimens, sampled in front of Majumga); IE-2007- 783 (1 specimen, sampled in front of Majumga). Remarks. This record is the first for the Indian Ocean., Published as part of Samyn, Yves & Vandenspiegel, Didier, 2016, Sublittoral and bathyal sea cucumbers (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) from the Northern Mozambique Channel with description of six new species, pp. 451-497 in Zootaxa 4196 (4) on pages 472-474, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4196.4.1, http://zenodo.org/record/168273, {"references":["Sluiter C. P. (1901) Die Holothurien der Siboga-Expedition. Siboga - Expeditie. Monograph, 44, 1 - 142,11 plates.","Liao, Y. (1997). Fauna Sinica, Phylum Echinodermata, Class Holothuroidea. Science Press, Bejing, China, i - ix, 335 pp, 2 plates.","Heding, S. G. (1940) Die Holothurien der Deutchsen Tiefsee Expedition II. Aspidochirote und Elasipod Formen. Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse der Deutschen Tiefsee Expedition auf dem Damfer Valdivia 1898 - 1899, 24, 317 - 375.","Perrier, R. (1902) Expeditions scientifiques du \" Travailleur \" et du \" Talisman \" pendant les annees 1880, 1881, 1882, 1883. Holothuries. Paris, 273 - 554, 11 plates.","Gebruk, A. V, Solis-Marin, F. A., Billett, D. M., Rogacheva, A. V. & Tyler, P. A. (2012) Review of the genus Zygothuria Perrier, 1898 and the Atlantic group of species of the genus Mesothuria Ludwig, 1894) (Synallactidae: Holothuroidea) with the description of the new species Mesothuria milleri sp. nov. Journal of Natural History, 46, 265 - 348."]}

Mesothuria oktaknemus Sluiter, 1901 (Fig. 11 A – D) Mesothuria oktaknemus Sluiter, 1901; Féral & Cherbonnier, 1981: 373,fig. 10A – J. Mesothuria (Allantis) oktaknemus; Heding, 1940: 333. Material examined. Non-type material: IE-2007-754(2) (1 specimen, sampled around Majumga); IE-2007-760 (1 specimen, collected between Majunga & Cape Saint-André); IE-2007-777 (1 specimen, around Majumga); IE 2007-778(4) (3 specimens, collected around Majumga); IE-2007-804 (3 specimens, sampled between Majunga & Cape Saint-André). Remarks. The present record extends the distribution of this species from the Indo-West Pacific Ocean to the East Indian Ocean.

The 2009 expedition with the research vessel Miriky sampled the sublittoral and bathyal waters of the northern Mozambique Channel. This exploration campaign resulted in a small, but very diverse collection of holothuroids comprising 174 specimens representing 31 species, 18 genera, 10 families and 5 orders. Of these species, many were hitherto unknown for Madagascar or even for the Indian Ocean, and six, Bathyplotes aymeric sp. nov., Holothuria (Cystipus) yann sp. nov., Holothuria (Stauropora) bo sp. nov., Holothuria (Metriatyla) alex sp. nov., Holothuria (Theelothuria) cyrielle sp.nov., Molpadia thandari sp. nov., are new to science. Molpadia lenticulum (Cherbonnier & Féral, 1981) is a new combination. This contribution provides an illustrated and annotated overview of the poorly known, highly biodiverse, sublittoral and bathyal sea cucumber fauna of the northern Mozambique Channel. Our findings demonstrate how ignorant we are about the poorly explored habitats of our planet and therefore stress the urgent need for more explorations to such regions.

Zygothuria lactea (Th��el, 1886) (Figures 1 & 2) Holothuria lactea Th��el, 1886: 183 ���184, pl. 10, figs. 9 and 15. Zygothuria lactea; Perrier, 1898: 1665; Gebruk et al, 2012: 310 ���321, 3 text figs. (synonymy). Diagnosis (see Deichmann 1954; Gebruk et al. 2012) Material examined. A 32143, west coast of South Africa, between Cape Peninsula and just north of Lambert���s Bay, 32 �� 28 'S, 16 �� 42 'E, Demersal Trawl V 279, 11 /01/ 2012, Trawl 005- 6187, 907 m, 1 spec.; A 32144, same locality as spec. 1, Trawl 006- 4116, 369 m, 1 spec. Description. Both specimens poorly preserved. Body oval in live state, sub-cylindrical to oval in preservative. Skin thick, with folds and wrinkles, covered in a slimy coat with very fine adhering sediment and fish scales. Mouth ventral, anus terminal, anal teeth/papillae absent. Colour in life white, almost translucent, white to grey in alcohol. Length up to 83 mm, width of mid-body up to 26 mm. Tube feet very reduced, difficult to discern. Tentacles 20, rounded with 3���4 terminal processes. A 32144 ���eviscerated, calcareous ring and associated structures lost; gonad and respiratory trees absent; large intestine filling almost entire coelomic cavity. Longitudinal muscles unpaired, thin. A 32143 ���partially eviscerated, calcareous ring, Polian vesicle, respiratory trees and gonad absent; stone canal attached to dorsal body wall; madreporite small, bean-shaped; longitudinal muscles as in A 32144. Ossicles present in body wall and tentacles only. Dorsal and ventral body wall ossicles comprise triradiate tables with rounded disc (69���134 ��m), with irregular margins and with a central hole surrounded by 6-8 large marginal holes; spire with three smooth pillars, terminating in a single point or in three fork-like projections, and a single transverse beam. Tentacle rods short (200-345 ��m), margins usually adorned with spines, rarely smooth, medially indented at times. Distribution (from Gebruk et al. 2012). Cosmopolitan with numerous records from the north-east Atlantic, also known from the north-west Atlantic, off West Africa, south-east Atlantic Ocean, Indo-Malayan archipelago and New Zealand, 694���5278 m. Remarks. Due to the poorly preserved and eviscerated state of the specimens, it is difficult to make an accurate determination but the specimens come very close to Zygothuria lactea (Th��el, 1886) in the general body form and appearance of the tri-radiate tables. While the form of the tables may be identical to those described for the species, the disc diameter is noticeably smaller than that recorded by Th��el (disc 200 ��m) and Gebruk et al. (disc 150���200 ��m). Stellate or hexagonal discs are not obvious and none of the pillars are adorned with spines. This is the first record of tentacle deposits in the species. Tube feet rods reported by Gebruk et al. (2012), Th��el (1886) and Mortensen (1927) were not observed. This species has been recorded from the south-east Atlantic Ocean by the ���Valdivia��� (Heding 1940), about 3000-4000 km off the west coast of South Africa. The current record is therefore the first from truly South African waters; hence some geographic variations between distantly distributed populations (north and mid-South Atlantic and the South African region) must exist with one specimen possessing table spires terminating in a single point only and incomplete discs. These could be attributed to individual or age variations, as one specimen measured 70 mm and the other 100 mm. It does not appear that two species are here represented. The combination Zygothuria lactea (Th��el, 1886) has been accepted by WoRMS. The north-east Atlantic variety oxysclera, reported by Perrier (1902) and Mortensen (1927), but rejected by several workers since, has been elevated to full specific status by Gebruk et al. (2012). It is characterised by tables with a meshwork-like holes on the discs and a single-armed spire which is often armed by minute spines. This combination has also been accepted by WoRMS. The specimen with tables with single armed spire, in the current collection, is not ascribed to this species because of the deterioration of most of the table discs., Published as part of Thandar, Ahmed S. & Rambaran, Ryan, 2015, On some sea cucumbers (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) from off the south and west coasts of South Africa collected by the South African Environmental and Observation Network (SAEON), pp. 41-61 in Zootaxa 3999 (1) on pages 42-43, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3999.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/289200, {"references":["Theel, H. (1886) Report on the Holothuroidea. Part II. Report of the Scientific Results of the HMS ' Challenger' during the years 1873 - 1976. Zoology IV, 34, 1 - 290.","Perrier, R. E. (1898) Sur les Holothuries recueillies par le Travailleur et le Talisman. Comptes rendus de l'Academie des sciences, 126, 1664 - 1666.","Gebruk, A. V., Solis-Marin, F. A., Billet, D. S. M., Rogacheva, A. V. & Tyler P. A. (2012) Review of the genus Zygothuria Perrier, 1898 and the Atlantic group of species of the genus Mesothuria Ludwig, 1894 (Synallactidae: Holothuroidea) with description of the new species Mesothuria milleri sp. nov. Journal of Natural History, 46 (5 - 6), 265 - 348. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1080 / 00222933.2011.638423","Deichmann, E. (1954) The holothurians of the Gulf of Mexico. Fish and Wildlife service, Fishery Bulletin, 55, 381 - 410.","Mortensen, T. (1927) Handbook of the echinoderms of the British Isles. Oxford University Press, London, 461 pp. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 6841","Heding, S. G. (1940) Die Holothurien der Deutchsen Tiefsee Expedition II. Aspidochirote und Elasipod Formen. Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse der Deutschen Tiefsee Expedition auf dem Damfer Valdivia 1898 - 1899, 24 (3), 317 - 375."]}

Thandar, Ahmed S., Rambaran, Ryan (2015): On some sea cucumbers (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) from off the south and west coasts of South Africa collected by the South African Environmental and Observation Network (SAEON). Zootaxa 3999 (1): 41-61, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3999.1.3

This paper presents a checklist of echinoderm species in the Adriatic Sea. The checklist is based on the review of the available literature data, with temporal coverage from the end of the 18th century to the present day, including the most recent investigations of benthic communities. A total of 108 species have been recorded: 2 species from class Crinoidea, 23 species from class Asteroidea, 22 species from class Ophiuroidea, 22 species from class Echinoidea and 39 species from class Holothuroidea. Non-indigenous echinoderm species have not been observed.

Gebruk, Andrey V., Solis-Marin, Francisco A., Billett, David S.M., Rogacheva, Antonina V., Tyler, Paul A. (2012): Review of the genus Zygothuria Perrier, 1898 and the Atlantic group of species of the genus Mesothuria Ludwig, 1894 (Synallactidae: Holothuroidea) with description of the new species Mesothuria milleri sp. nov. Journal of Natural History 46: 265-348, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2011.638423, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2011.638423