Holothuroidea of the Emperor Seamount Chain: Taxonomy, Morphology and Molecular Data
In our study, we provide the first data on Holothuroidea fauna from the Emperor Seamount Chain. We analyzed samples from four guyots, Koko, Nintoku, Kinmei, and Ojin, collected using a remotely operated vehicle. We found 16 species and describe one new genus and two new species: Parvathuria dautovae gen. et sp. nov. and Peniagone koko sp. nov. For all taxa, we provide morphological descriptions and molecular data (COI and 16S rRNA). Most of the species we found were tentatively new to science, highlighting the poor knowledge of Pacific bathyal holothuroids. Our study will aid in the identification and future studies of Holothuroidea from Pacific seamounts.
Read the full article, here