This Sea Cucumber has Dr. Bill and others stumped!

[drbill]

I've contacted a number of scientists familiar with the sea cucumbers of SoCal and no one was able to ID this sea cucumber. I've seen it for a number of years in the Twin Rocks-Goat Harbor area on the leeward side of Catalina Island, and recently filmed it at Hen Rock where I've never seen it before.

I am fairly certain it is in the genus Holothuria, and most likely is a species more common in the Baja California region. Most of the specimens I see are encrusted in algae, etc., and very few offer a look at a clean dorsal surface. I have also included an image in the lower right of Holothuria zacae which is found on Catalina as its northernmost distribution limit. Note what appears to be a similarity between it and the images in the upper and lower left of the first collage. The second collage shows the unid species eviscerating.

Anyone have any ideas?

 

[jlyle]

SWAG: Holothuria atra?

 

[MaxBottomtime]

Holothuria atra comes in a wide variety of colors. I think Jim is correct.Holothuria atra - Google Image Search

 

[drbill]

Thanks, Jim & Phil. So far all the scientific specialists remain stumped on it. They need to have a collected specimen so they can investigate the internal stricture and the ossicles. I'll post with the results. It would be pretty cool if the two of you divers hit it right before they do!

 

[scottfiji]

nice find Dr Bill, how deep did you find it?

lets just assume its a new species and name it ourselves!

 

[Beachlover]

How holothuria Drbillicus?

 

[drbill]

Actually I've found it a number of times in pretty shallow water... 20 to 40 ft (and deeper).

A few more echinoderm experts have weighed in and they can't ID it for sure either, so I guess I'll have to collect one or two once I'm on a valid scientific collecting permit.

I'm reminded of the story about Ed "Doc" Ricketts (of Cannery Row fame) who, if memory serves me correctly, took a (recently?) live specimen of a critter in to one of the world's authorities on that species. The scientist couldn't identify it as he'd never seen one that wasn't pickled or observed through a microscope. Of course I almost fell into that category, but I escaped from the laboratory (which is really just a slightly bigger cubicle).

My Latin is not very good, Beachlover, but I think it would have to be Holothuria DrBillia. I'll accept that honor!

 

[Beachlover]

What can I say,latin is not my strong point! Glad you like it.

 

[pir8]

How about a compromise of Holothuria DrBilliacus?

 

[drbill]

Hee hee, how about we find out if it already has a name first! Maybe I should just ask one of them, but they'd probably say "Harry" or "Mary."