A new species of Lipotrapeza (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea: Dendrochirotida: Phyllophoridae) from Japan, with a partial redescription of the syntypes of L. japonica

Abstract

A new dendrochirotid sea cucumber collected in the intertidal zone of western Japan, Lipotrapeza littoralis sp. nov., is described. This species has a medium body size (approximately 30–80 mm), brownish body color, 20 tentacles arranged in a double circle (15+5), a long calcareous ring, ten anal papillae and five anal scales, and numerous pedicels covering the entire body at an even density. For comparison, we also examined the syntype specimens of Lipotrapeza japonica Heding and Panning, 1954 and provide illustrations of the general appearance of its body, calcareous ring, and ossicles. The calcareous rings of both species are very similar in appearance, but the new species is readily distinguishable from L. japonica by the number of anal papillae. The appearance of the rosette ossicles also differs in the two species.