FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes Western

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Order Aspidochirotida - Holothuriidae 1165
Order Aspidochirotida - Holothuriidae HOLOTHURIIDAE
Diagnostic characters: Body dome-shaped in cross-section, with trivium (or sole) usually flattened
and dorsal bivium convex and covered with papillae. Gonads forming a single tuft appended to the left
dorsal mesentery. Tentacular ampullae present, long, and slender. Cuvierian organs present or absent.
Dominant spicules in form of tables, buttons (simple or modified), and rods (excluding C-and S-shaped
rods).
Key to the genera and subgenera of Holothuriidae occurring in the area (after Clark and Rowe, 1971)
1a. Body wall very thick; podia and papillae short, more or less regularly arranged on bivium
and trivium; spicules in form of rods, ovules, rosettes, but never as tables or buttons . . . . . . → 2
1b. Body wall thin to thick; podia irregularly arranged on the bivium and scattered papillae
on the trivium; spicules in various forms, with tables and/or buttons present . . . (Holothuria) → 4
2a. Tentacles 20 to 30; podia ventral, irregularly arranged on the interradii or more regularly
on the radii; 5 calcified anal teeth around anus; spicules in form of spinose rods and
rosettes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Actinopyga
2b. Tentacles 20 to 25; podia ventral, usually irregularly arranged, rarely on the radii; no
calcified anal teeth around anus, occasionally 5 groups of papillae; spicules in form of
spinose and/or branched rods and rosettes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . → 3
3a. Podia on bivium arranged in 3 rows; spicules comprise rocket-shaped forms . . . . Pearsonothuria
3b. Podia on bivium not arranged in 3 rows; spicules not comprising rocket-shaped forms . . . Bohadschia
4a. Spicules in form of well-developed tables, rods and perforated plates, never as buttons . . . . . → 5
4b. Spicules in form of tables, occurring alone or along with buttons, rods, or rosettes . . . . . . . → 7
5a. Spicules never in form of rosettes;tables with no or reduced disc, bearing spines terminating
in form of a maltese cross; body cylindrical; body wall soft . . . . . . . . Holothuria (Semperothuria)
5b. Spicules in form of rosettes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . → 6
6a. Podia in 3 rows on trivium; small papillae dispersed on bivium; spicules in form of
rosettes, and tables with reduced disc, bearing a spine ending in a maltese cross (when
viewed from above) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Holothuria (Halodeima)
6b. Podia not very numerous, irregularly arranged in 10 rows (radial and interradial); papillae
on bivium irregularly arranged in 10 rows; spicules in form of rosettes, and tables with
disc in a “cup and saucer form”, bearing a low, wide spire ending in a spinose crown
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Holothuria (Acanthotrapeza)
7a. Spicules in form of smooth buttons or pseudo-buttons; tables variously developed . . . . . . . → 8
7b. Spicules in form of buttons, always knobby, occasionally in form of ellipsoids; tables
strongly developed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . → 10
8a. Tables well developed, their disc usually squarish with smooth rim and 8 holes,
occasionally strongly perforated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Holothuria (Thymiosycia)
8b. Tables moderately developed, their disc with usually notched rim; buttons of variable
shape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . → 9
9a. Tentacles 16 to 30; tables with notched rim and a low spire terminating in a ring of
irregular spines; pseudo-buttons abundant, irregular; collar of papillae present around
base of tentacles and anus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Holothuria (Lessonothuria)
9b. Tentacles 18 to 20; some tables often with narrow disc, spire reduced; other tables
having a well-developed disc and spire with 4 columns; buttons irregular; no collar of
papillae around base of tentacles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Holothuria (Mertensiothuria)
10a. Buttons never modified to form fenestrated ellipsoids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . → 11
10b. Buttons modified to form fenestrated ellipsoids, and buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . → 12