Additions to the aspidochirotid, molpadid and apodid holothuroids (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) from the east coast of southern Africa, with descriptions of new species Author THANDAR, AHMED S. text Zootaxa 2007 2007-03-01 1414 1 1 62 http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.1414.1.1 journal article 10.11646/zootaxa.1414.1.1 1175­5334 5077005 DC93A9BC-D24E-44AD-99AF-79CACCCFB984 Holothuria (Mertensiothuria) hilla Lesson, 1830 Figure 10 Holothuria hilla Lesson, 1830: 226 , pl. 79. Holothuria (Thymiosycia) hilla Massin, 1999: 55 (synonymy & records before 1999). Holothuria (Mertensiothuria) hilla Samyn & Massin, 2003: 2500 , fig. 5 A–E, 11C, 12F (records after 1999). Type MNHNP , EcHh 542 . Type locality Borabora Island ( Society Island ) . Previous southern African record Mozambique and east coast of South Africa . Material examined SAM-A27931 , Sodwana Reef , Rotenone , St. RW 76–15, scuba-gear, 25.vii. 1976 , 17 m , 1 spec. , SAM- A27932, Isipingo Beach , KwaZulu-Natal , 26 iv 1979 , rock pool, K.S. Ganga & G.C. Naidu , 1 spec. (juvenile). Description Sodwana specimen ( SAM-A 27931) 45x 16 mm , strongly contracted, eviscerated and somewhat mutilated due to previous dissection. Colour, in alcohol, greyish with pale areas around podia. Mouth sub-ventral, collar absent; anus terminal, no special anal papillae. Podia scattered, better developed ventrally with some indication here of their arrangement in rows, few and reduced dorsally. Tentacle ampullae short (<0.5 mm). Polian vesicle single, elongate; stone canal straight, madreporite spherical. Cuvierian tubules present. Body wall table discs 46–65 µm (mean 54 µm ) ( Figure 10A ), smooth, squarish to roundish, with a single series (or only four) marginal holes; spire 33–42 µm high (mean 36 µm ), with single cross-bar, terminating in ring of few short spines. Buttons ( Figure 10B ) smooth, 50–75 µm (mean 61 µm ), regular, with 3–5 pairs of large holes. Ventral podial deposits reduced tables, buttons 57–109 µm (mean 74 µm ), large multilocular perforated plates ( Figure 10C ), 98–154 µm x 32–109 µm , and end-plates; buttons often asymmetrical and/or reduced to a single series of holes. Table disc of dorsal podia 54–67 µm (mean 58 µm ), spire 37–44 µm (mean 41 µm ); buttons 61–100 µm (mean 83 µm ) and button-like plates and rods ( Figure 10D ) 33–135 µm (mean 91 µm ), the latter usually perforate at ends. Tentacle rods slender, 28–144 µm (mean 63 µm ), spinulated at ends ( Figure 10E ). Longitudinal muscles with deposits resembling letters of alphabet in both script and print form. Table discs of Isipingo specimen ( SAM-A 27932) 42–70 µm , with 8–10 marginal and sometimes a second series of much smaller holes outside these; buttons 50–105 µm . FIGURE 10. Holothuria (Mertensiothuria) hilla Lesson, 1833 . SAM–A27931. A. tables from ventral body wall; B. buttons from ventral body wall; C. plates from ventral podia; D. rods from dorsal podia; E. rods from tentacles. (All drawn to same scale) Distribution Tropical-subtropical Indo-West Pacific Ocean, 0– 30 m . Habitat Benthic, shallow, inshore. Remarks Despite the absence of a distinct ring around the anus, the Sodwana specimen is still referred to the widely distributed H. (M) hilla . It is, however, briefly described above as there are some significant differences. The Isipingo specimens, definitely referable to H. hilla , have smaller spicules than those given for the species by Rowe (1969) , but their dimensions match those of Pearson’s (1910) Mozambique specimen and of Samyn & Massin’s (2003) Kenya material. The latter workers recently removed the species from Thymiosycia and transferred it to Mertensiothuria .