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Description of the juvenile form of the sea cucumber Thelenota anax H. L. Clark, 1921

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Abstract

Our knowledge of the ecology and habitat of juveniles of many sea cucumber species is limited, due to their cryptic habitats and differing color and shape from adults. In the present study, a juvenile specimen of the sea cucumber Thelenota anax H. L. Clark, 1921, collected from 30 m at Rukan Reef, Okinawa, Japan, is described. We confirmed specific identity using cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences. We show that the pseudotable ossicles in Thelenota are table ossicles, and document synallactid-like ossicles not previously recorded in the Stichopodidae.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Prof. Euichi Hirose, University of the Ryukyus, for his help in the support and training in the use of SEM. Comments from two reviewers improved this manuscript.

Funding

The second author was funded by a Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) ‘Zuno-Junkan’ grant entitled ‘Studies on origin and maintenance of marine biodiversity and systematic conservation planning’.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Molecular Invertebrate Systematics and Ecology Laboratory, Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus, 1 Senbaru, Nishihara, Okinawa, 903-0213, Japan

    Taha Soliman, James D. Reimer & Iori Kawamura

  2. National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Kayet-Bay, El-Anfoushy, Alexandria, 21556, Egypt

    Taha Soliman

  3. Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, 1 Senbaru, Nishihara, Okinawa, 903-0213, Japan

    James D. Reimer

  4. Oxford University Museum of Natural History, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PW, UK

    Sancia E. T. van der Meij

  5. Naturalis Biodiversity Center, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Sancia E. T. van der Meij & Bastian T. Reijnen

  6. Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA

    Gustav Paulay

Authors
  1. Taha Soliman
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  2. James D. Reimer
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  3. Iori Kawamura
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  4. Sancia E. T. van der Meij
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  5. Bastian T. Reijnen
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  6. Gustav Paulay
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to James D. Reimer.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed by the authors.

Field study

Permits and approval of field or observational studies were not needed according to laws in Japan/Okinawa.

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Communicated by S. Stöhr

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Soliman, T., Reimer, J.D., Kawamura, I. et al. Description of the juvenile form of the sea cucumber Thelenota anax H. L. Clark, 1921. Mar Biodiv 49, 547–554 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12526-017-0820-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12526-017-0820-2

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