A New Species of Cladolabes (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea: Dendrochirotida: Sclerodactylidae) from Nagasaki, Japan, with Partial Redescription of the Neotype of C. limaconotus

Abstract

We describe the new sclerodactylid sea cucumber Cladolabes kirara sp. nov. based on 10 specimens collected in the intertidal zone of the west coast of Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. For comparison, we also examined the neotype specimen of Cladolabes limaconotus Brandt, 1835 (type species of the genus) and provide illustrations of the general appearance of its body and of ossicles from a tentacle, the introvert, and the middle part of the body. The new species is readily distinguishable from its congeners by the shape of the ossicles in the integument of the body wall, which are two-pillared tables with rudimentary discs, distally united pillars, and most frequently two holes and a cross-beam between the pillars.