First record of a Lessepsian migrant: the sea cucumber Holothuria (Theelothuria) hamata Pearson, 1913

Zootaxa. 2019 Jan 29;4551(1):94-100. doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.4551.1.7.

Abstract

First record of a Lessepsian migrant: the sea cucumber Holothuria (Theelothuria) hamata Pearson, 1913. A single specimen of the Indo-West Pacific sea cucumber Holothuria (Theelothuria) hamata Pearson, 1913 has been captured in 2017 in the Mediterranean Sea, Turkey, Iskenderun Bay, at 30 m depth. This specimen is here described, and the taxonomy of the species is briefly discussed. Despite the lack of timed biogeographic evidence, we here argue that H. hamata is a Lessepsian migrant; the first in its genus and only the second holothuroid.

Keywords: Echinodermata, taxonomy, biogeographic migration, Turkey, Suez, Holothuroidea, Mediterranean.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Holothuria*
  • Mediterranean Sea
  • Sea Cucumbers*
  • Turkey