Ten Simple Rules for Digital Data Storage

Data is the central currency of science, but the nature of scientific data has changed dramatically with the rapid pace of technology. This change has led to the development of a wide variety of data formats, dataset sizes, data complexity, data use cases, and data sharing practices. Improvements in high throughput DNA sequencing, sustained institutional support for large sensor networks, and sky surveys with large-format digital cameras have created massive quantities of data. At the same time, the combination of increasingly diverse research teams and data aggregation in portals (e.g. for biodiversity data, GBIF or iDigBio) necessitates increased coordination among data collectors and institutions. As a consequence, “data” can now mean anything from petabytes of information stored in professionally-maintained databases, through spreadsheets on a single computer, to hand-written tables in lab notebooks on shelves. All remain important, but data curation practices must continue to keep pace with the changes brought about by new forms and practices of data collection and storage.</jats:p

Phyrella drozdovi

Phyrella drozdovi (Levin & Stepanov, 1999) Semperiella drozdovi Levin & Stepanov, 1999: 71–74, figs. 1–8. Holotype: Kamchat-NIRO, catalog number: KNIRO-V-001; Paratypes: KNIRO-V-002, KNIRO-V-003; types transferred to Zoological Institute Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint Petersburg, Russia (Alexey Smirnov, pers. comm.); type locality: Vietnam, Gulf of Nhatrang, Tam Island, intertidal zone Remarks. This species is known from three specimens from Tam Island, Vietnam: the 5.2 cm long holotype, and 4.6 and 3.4 cm long paratypes. The general appearance (coloration, shape, arrangement of the tube feet, presence of anal teeth), shape of calcareous ring, ossicle assemblage, and number of tentacles (14–15) are all characteristic of Phyrella. This species was originally assigned to Semperiella because of its 15 tentacles, previously thought to be of generic significance. The ecology of P. drozdovi is also similar to P. fragilis (abundant, intertidal, under rocks, densely coated with adhering sediment). However, there are also some differences, in particular in the ossicles: most if not all tables have a poorly developed spire, there are perforated plates in the tentacles, and elongated perforated plates in the introvert. This species appears to belong to Phyrella. We have not been able to study the type series, which will be necessary to evaluate the species' distinctiveness from P. fragilis, the congener most similar in morphology, distribution, and ecology. Ecology & distribution. Known only from the type locality, Tam Island, Vietnam, where it is common in an intertidal pebble-cobble beach.Published as part of Michonneau, François & Paulay, Gustav, 2014, Revision of the genus Phyrella (Holothuroidea: Dendrochirotida) with the description of a new species from Guam, pp. 101-140 in Zootaxa 3760 (2) on pages 111-112, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3760.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/490832

Phyrella thyonoides

Phyrella thyonoides (Clark, 1938) Figures 17–22; 27 f,g Phyllophorus thyonoides, Clark, 1938:492–494. fig. 48. Holotype, MCZ HOL1654; type locality: Western Australia, Cottesloe Beach (Perth) Phyrella thyonoides: Heding & Panning, 1954:183–184, fig. 88 Material examined. MCZ HOL1654, (Holotype), Western Australia, Cottesloe Beach, from beach drift, July 1926, coll. L. Glauert. Phyrella cf. thyonoides: UF 9414, UF 9598, UF 9601, Western Australia, Ningaloo Reef, Ningaloo station, -22.6753 113.684, 1– 3 m, under rocks on sand, May 2009. coll. François Michonneau. Description of holotype. Specimen in poor condition; 33 mm along dorsum, about 45 mm along venter, 13 mm wide at mid-body (Fig. 17). Body wall dried out, very stiff, leathery. Body wall and most organs uniformly dark brown. Introvert retracted; only a small piece remains; 12 mm long. With 16 tentacles of varying sizes, longest about 13 mm, shortest about 1 mm; arrangement difficult to discern because of the state of contraction and preservation of specimen. Cloacal region dissected out, missing. Calcareous ring 17 mm long, 8 mm wide, embedded in a fairly thin and transparent membrane (Fig. 27f). Anterior margins of radials divided slightly unequally by deep notch. Anterior margins of the inter-radials arrow-head shaped. Inter-radials each composed of 11–13 elements. Radials each composed of 14–18 elements, forming long posterior tails. Radials and inter-radials closely associated along most of their lengths. Single Polian vesicle, 4 mm long, brown and pear-shaped. Stone canal and madreporite embedded in membrane surrounding the calcareous ring. Stone canal 2 mm long, madreporite about 1 mm in diameter, spherical with convolutions. After multiple attempts in different parts of specimen, no ossicles were found in the body wall or in the tentacles, likely because of corrosion. Clark illustrated and described body wall tables and tentacle supporting rods. Description of Phyrella cf. thyonoides from Ningaloo. External morphology. Body wall slightly firmer and more leathery than in other Phyrella. Living animal dark brown, densely covered with tube feet with yellow base color overlain with dark brown transverse lines and with red ring around sucker margin (Fig. 18). Preserved specimens relatively straight 30–35 mm (excluding introvert and tentacles when extended) and 13 mm wide. Introvert short (4 mm). Introvert and tentacles white, peppered with small, dark brown flecks; base of tentacles also have small light brown blotches. With 15 tentacles in outer circle (about 3 mm) and 5 tentacles in inner circle (<1 mm), latter aligned with ambulacra (UF 9414 and UF 9601). Oral disc with light brown line around mouth. Cloacal membrane white, with 5 lightly calcified anal teeth, each associated with a few tube feet with minute brown spots. Internal anatomy (based on UF 9601). Polian vesicle single, light brown with very sparse minute dark spots, 5 mm long. Madreporite and stone canal inconspicuous, embedded in the membrane surrounding the calcareous ring. Stone canal short (<2 mm) and narrow (<1 mm) embedded in the membrane surrounding the pharyngeal complex. Gonads with two well-developed tufts of unbranched, semi-transparent tubes, with small dark purple spots, up to 5 mm long. Respiratory trees light gray with minute dark purple spots, both extending almost entire length of animal. Specimen eviscerated, but retaining pharyngeal complex, gonads, respiratory trees and proximal end of esophagus. Calcareous ring (based on UF 9601). Calcareous ring embedded in a relatively thin membrane (Fig. 27g). Anterior margins of radials divided unequally by a well-formed notch. Anterior margins of inter-radials arrow-head shaped. Radial and inter-radial elements are closely associated along most of their respective lengths. Inter-radials each composed of 5–8 elements. Radials each composed of 14–18 elements. Radials project posteriorly forming long tails that curve anteriorly at their tips. Ossicles. Dorsal and ventral body wall lacking ossicles except in podia. Podia with perforated plates (120– 220 µ m long, 20–65 µ m wide), more elongated and with typically larger holes, in particular towards the ends of the plates than in the other species (Fig. 19a–i; Fig. 20a–e). Cloacal body wall with tables and rosettes (20–40 µ m long, Fig. 22B). Tables variables; disc 90–115 µ m in diameter, with either a single circle of 8–11 holes (Fig. 19u,v), sometimes with a few extra holes at the periphery (Fig. 19t), or with very numerous holes that are not arranged in any particular order (Fig. 20i), with a highly serrated rim; spire (sometimes wanting, Fig. 19x) formed by four (rarely five) pillars united by a single cross-beam, surmounted with a crown; crown often incomplete (Fig. 19r), when complete sometimes with spines (Fig. 19w), which in some tables that have numerous holes in their disc, extend and connect to the disc margin (Fig. 20i). Podia with perforated plates; less abundant and generally smaller than in mid body wall, 110–165 µ m long, 40–60 µ m wide (Fig. 20j). Podia that flank anal teeth with rosettes and perforated plates (Fig. 20l, Fig. 21a–c), some of the latter with unusual lateral extensions (Fig. 20k), many plates incomplete with no or few large perforations and only a few small perforations at the extremities (Fig. 21d). Introvert body wall with variable tables, disc 60–80 µ m in diameter, with smooth rim margins, complete and regular with 10–12 holes in the rim, to irregular either with incomplete rim or with additional scattered holes; spire poorly developed or missing for most (Fig. 19l). Podia with abundant rosettes, 30–50 µ m long (Fig. 22A); perforated plates that range from typical to small, more or less circular (60–80 µ m in diameter), with a few large holes in the center and smaller holes toward the periphery (Fig. 19m –q). Tentacles with two sizes of rods. Large rods (110–270 µ m) with one or a few holes at the ends. Small rods (50–100 µ m) generally with no holes at the ends (Fig. 19z). No ossicles observed in cloacal, longitudinal and retractor muscles; cloacal wall; gonads; or respiratory tree. Remarks. In the original description of Phyrella thyonoides, Clark only illustrates one table from the body wall and three rods from the tentacles. Overall, the description he provides and the holotype fit reasonably well with our new material from Ningaloo, but there are some differences. Thus, in Clark's description, the ends of the large rods in the tentacles have numerous perforations and are spiny; in our specimens, the large rods have only a few holes at their ends and are not spiny. In our specimens, we did not observe any tables in the mid-dorsal or midventral body wall, whereas Clark noted that the tables were “rather scattered, but by no means rare” but did not indicate in which part of the animal he observed them. The table he illustrates is relatively similar to the ones we observed in the anal region of our specimens. Unfortunately, the poor condition of the holotype and the complete corrosion of the ossicles do not allow for an adequate comparison with the Ningaloo material. A full evaluation of P. thyonoides and its relation to the Ningaloo population must await collection of new topotypical material. Surprisingly, none of the specimens loaned to us by the Western Australian Museum identified as P. thyonoides, turned out to belong to this species or to Phyrella. P. thyonoides can be distinguished from other Phyrella by its thick, leathery, dark brown body wall; the elongated perforated plates with large perforations, and the circular perforated plates in the introvert. Recently, O'Loughlin et al. (2012) proposed to transfer Phyrella thyonoides to Phyllophorella based on the number of tentacles and the shape of the calcareous ring for the specimens they examined, however most of the specimens they report upon do not appear to pertain to P. thyonoides, but to an undescribed species of Phyllophorella. The tables illustrated (O'Loughlin et al., 2012: Fig. 10) with marginal teeth are unlike those found in any Phyrella. The general appearance of the animal and shape of the calcareous ring illustrated (O'Loughlin et al., 2012: Fig. 9) also do not match Phyrella. O’Loughlin et al. (2012) note that there are single posterior extensions on the calcareous ring in this species (and other Phyllophorella) arising either from radial or jointly from radial and inter-radial elements; this contrasts with the clearly separate series of plates that arise from the fragmentation of both inter-radial and radial elements of all Phyrella species. One of the specimens examined by the authors (WAM Z31837) was sequenced and matches a Phyllophorus species we collected along with P. thyonoides, in Ningaloo, Western Australia (Phyllophorus sp. 1 in Fig. 28). Ecology & distribution. In Ningaloo, animals were adhering to dead shells or rocks that were buried in sand and on which algae was growing, close to shore at 1–3 m depth. They co-occurred with Holothuria michaelseni. The types were cast up on the beach, suggesting shallow habits. Known from Perth and Ningaloo, Western Australia.Published as part of Michonneau, François & Paulay, Gustav, 2014, Revision of the genus Phyrella (Holothuroidea: Dendrochirotida) with the description of a new species from Guam, pp. 101-140 in Zootaxa 3760 (2) on pages 124-129, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3760.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/490832

Phyllophorus dubia

Phyllophorus dubia (Bedford, 1899) Orcula (? Phyllophorus) dubia Bedford, 1899:144, pl. XVII, fig. 4. Holotype not located; type locality: Loyalty Islands, Lifu Remarks. This species was only known from the type, 10.5 cm long with ca. 15 tentacles; it was described as lacking tables, with only rosettes and needles (latter likely contaminating sponge spicules) as ossicles, and with the calcareous ring with fragmented radials and inter-radials. The species was collected in the intertidal. The species was compared with Phyllophorus bedoti and Orcula tenera by Bedford. The species is closest to Phyrella, but differs in lacking tables. It has not been studied since the original description. The holotype has not been located, it is not at the BMNH. Orcula Troschel, 1846 (non Held, 1837, renamed Ekmania Hansen & McKenzie, 1991) is a cucumariid genus, so we tentatively assign this species to Phyllophorus sensu lato for nomenclatural purposes. Specific-level comparisons and generic assignment is not possible without restudy; we consider this to be species inquirenda.Published as part of Michonneau, François & Paulay, Gustav, 2014, Revision of the genus Phyrella (Holothuroidea: Dendrochirotida) with the description of a new species from Guam, pp. 101-140 in Zootaxa 3760 (2) on page 135, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3760.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/490832

Phyrella fragilis

Phyrella fragilis (Mitsukuri & Ohshima in Ohshima, 1912) Figures 4–9; 27 a–c Phyllophorus fragilis Mitsukuri & Ohshima in Ohshima, 1912: 81–87. Pl. I, Fig. 3; textfig 6. Syntypes UMUTZ-Ecn-H-Den- 144 (was 1658 in Mitsukuri & Ohshima, 9 specimens), Nishino-omote, Tanegashima, Stasuma; Satsukawa, Amami- Oshima (1 specimen); Sakibaru, near Naha, Okinawa island (12 specimens) Phyrella fragilis: Heding & Panning, 1954: 185–186. Fig. 90 Thyonidiella oceana Heding & Panning, 1954:172–173, Fig. 82. Holotype: ZMUC HOL-253; type locality: Ambon, Moluccas, Indonesia Thyonidiella oceana: Cherbonnier, 1988: 229–232, Fig. 102 A–H Material examined: ZMUC HOL-253 (Holotype of Thyonidiella oceana), Ambon, February 1922, coll. Th. Mortensen; UF 4096, Taiwan, Wanlitung, W of Kenting National Park, 0 m, 14 May 2005, coll. Kris Netchy & Robert Lasley; UF 11011, UF 11013, UF 11014, UF 11016, Japan, Okinawa Island, Sunabe (adjacent to the type locality), 19 May 2011, coll. Yoshida Ryuta. WAM Z26012, Western Australia, Kimberley, Coulomb Point, - 17.3975, 122.148500, Tide pool, 8 October 2009, coll. A. Sampey; WAM Z26013 Western Australia, Kimberley, James Price Point, -17.501667, 122.143167, 7 October 2009, coll. G. Young. Description. External morphology. Body wall soft, fairly thin and covered with tube feet. Color in preservative, beige (UF 11011, UF 11013, UF 11014, UF 11016, ZMUC HOL-253, Fig. 5B) to gray (UF 4096) to orange (WAM Z26012, WAM Z26013), some with deep purple patches usually in the middle of the body and/or with small brown spots that can be fairly abundant all over body (Fig. 5A); some specimens with darker coloration on both ends (e.g., UF 11011, Fig. 5A). Body arched, slightly U-shaped, generally cylindrical with a tapering posterior end. Largest animal (UF 4096) 65 mm along dorsum, 92 mm along venter, and 30 mm wide across midbody; most 40–55 mm along dorsum, 55–75 mm along venter, and 20+/- mm wide. Introvert retracted in all specimens examined, short (7 mm long, 4 mm wide for UF 4096), variable in color from almost white to dark brown. Tube feet same color as body wall and purple when originating in patches of this color; very abundant, evenly spread across radial and inter-radial areas, more abundant on venter and toward extremities; fairly large (~ 2 mm long, ~ 1 mm wide relaxed). 15–17 tentacles of varying size [UF 4096: 17 tentacles (10 in outer circle, 7 in inner circle), WAM Z26012: 16 tentacles (10 in outer circle, 6 in inner circle), WAM Z26013: 15 tentacles (9 in outer circle, 6 in inner circle), ZMUC HOL-253: 15 tentacles (disposition too difficult to discern)]. Cloacal membrane white. Cloaca surrounded by 5 small, lightly calcified anal teeth. Internal anatomy. Polian vesicle single, white with sparse small brown spots; variable in size and with no clear relation to size of animal (4 mm in UF 4096,> 10 mm in all other dissected specimens). Stone canal inconspicuous, lightly calcified, at least proximally embedded in either the membrane surrounding the calcareous ring or the dorsal mesentery. Madreporite single, white, inconspicuous, small (<1 mm in diameter), spherical, either embedded in membrane surrounding calcareous ring, dorsal mesentery or free in the body cavity. Gonads well developed in mature individuals, in two tufts; composed of simple, up to 8 mm long, white or yellow tubes branching dichotomously up to a few times. Four of six dissected specimens examined were eviscerated, these retaining gonads, both respiratory trees, and a small anterior portion of the esophagus. Intestine long, distended when packed with fine, muddy sand. Respiratory trees white, extending almost entire body length. Calcareous ring. Calcareous ring embedded in a relatively thick membrane; radials and inter-radials typically highly fragmented elements; radial and inter-radial elements closely associated along most of their length (Fig. 27a,b,c). Anterior margin of radial plates unequally divided by a well formed notch. Anterior margin of the inter-radial plates arrow-head shaped. Fragmentation of radial and inter-radial elements appears to increase with size; with inter-radials entire in one of the smallest specimens studied (WAM Z26012, Fig. 27b), to fragmented to 15–20 elements each, in largest (UF 4096, Fig. 27a). Radials extend posteriorly as long tails that tend to recurve at their tip. Ossicle assemblage. Dorsal and ventral body wall with tables only. Tables variable, disc with complete (Fig. 7b) or incomplete rim (Fig. 7f,d; Fig. 8a,d), 100–125 µ m in diameter; central perforation 10–35 µ m in diameter, surrounded by a ring of 8 perforations (Fig. 7b,c; Fig. 8g), rarely with additional holes peripheral to these; margins slightly raised; spire formed by four pillars connected by a single cross-beam half way up, terminating in a narrow, often incomplete crown; irregular and incomplete tables also present, spire completely (Fig. 7a,g) or partially wanting (Fig. 8d, h), often with larger central perforation than regular tables. Podia with perforated plates 160–250 µ m long and 65–100 µ m wide, with holes decreasing in size toward periphery; margins serrated; serrations most developed along the more convex margin (Fig. 7h–k; Fig. 8e,f,k). Cloacal body wall with tables and rosettes. Tables similar to those found elsewhere in body wall. Rosettes abundant, 20–30 µ m long (Fig. 9A). Podia with shorter perforated plates, up to 150 µ m long (Fig.7r, Fig. 8q,r). Podia that flank anal teeth with rods, 40–65 µ m long (Fig. 8s), and some rosettes. Introvert body wall with tables and rosettes (20–30 µ m in length) (Fig. 9B); tables drop out toward tentacles. Tables similar to, but typically smaller (60–90 µ m) (Fig. 7l–n; Fig. 8n–p) than those elsewhere in the body wall. Podia with perforated plates variable and mostly similar to those of body wall near cloaca (Fig. 7o–q; Fig. 8l,m); and with rosettes, mostly toward the base of podia. Tentacles with rods, 40–95 µ m long, with no, one or a few perforations toward ends, some with serrations along margin (Fig. 7s). No ossicles were observed in the cloacal, longitudinal and retractor muscles; intestine; cloacal wall; gonads; and respiratory tree. Remarks. Mitsukuri noted in his original description (quoted in Ohshima, 1912) that the species has 15 tentacles (10 large and 5 small); however Ohshima adding to this description in the same paper notes that this species has “invariably” 20 tentacles. Heding & Panning (1954) followed Ohshima to assign this species to Phyrella based on having 20 tentacles. Specimens examined had 15–17 tentacles. This species can be distinguished from other Phyrella by the abundant, large tube feet, the regular tables in the body wall and the large serrations on the more convex margins of the perforated plates. Synonymy of Thyonidiella oceana. Heding & Panning (1954) studied three specimens that they attributed to their Thyonidiella oceana, one from Ambon and two from Mauritius, designating the first as the holotype. The Mauritius specimens pertain to Phyrella? ambigua (see below). Heding & Panning noted that the holotype is 25 mm long, appears contracted so that the body wall is thick, both mouth and anus are dorsal, and possesses 10 large and 5 small tentacles. They illustrated the calcareous ring showing that both radials and inter-radials are fragmented, and the inter-radials have posterior projections. They also noted that the body wall lacks ossicles, as they were able to recover only tube feet end plates. The absence of signs of corrosion on the latter suggested to the authors that the absence of ossicles was not an artifact. They end their description by providing notes from Mortensen who collected the Ambon specimen and indicated that it lives buried in the sand under rocks (presumably in the intertidal), and eviscerates readily. Cherbonnier (1988) redescribed and illustrated the holotype. He noted that the specimens from Mauritius are devoid of ossicles except for tube feet end plates and rosettes in the cloacal region. This may explain why Heding & Panning did not find ossicles if they only examined the Mauritius specimens for ossicles. In his description, Cherbonnier confirmed Heding & Panning's description, and in particular the absence of ossicles in the ventral body wall of the holotype. However, he found and illustrated ossicles in the dorsal body wall. These include tables with a four pillar spire, and a crown which can be incomplete; perforated plates; and rosettes in the introvert and cloacal region. He concluded by noting that the original description is incomplete due to the lack of illustration of the dorsal body wall ossicles, and that the Ambon specimen appears to be Semperiella tenera (Ludwig, 1875). His concept of S. tenera was based on Heding & Panning account for this species, which in turn was not based on type material. The ossicles and calcareous ring of the holotype of T. oceana, as illustrated by Cherbonnier (1988: Fig 102) are indistinguishable from Phyrella fragilis. Examination of the holotype of T. oceana (Fig. 6), confirms Cherbonnier's observations (absence of ossicles in the ventral body wall, tables and perforated plates in the dorsal body wall and tube feet, fragmented inter-radial elements in the calcareous ring), and we found no difference between it and specimens of P. fragilis taken near the type locality of the latter species. Ecology & distribution. Phyrella fragilis is an intertidal species found under rocks in calcareous sand; the animal usually covers itself with large sand grains and pieces of shells. It is common in intertidal areas of Ilocos Norte province, Philippines (-17.501667, 122.143167), where it is commercially harvested and eaten by the local population who call it sorsorbot (R. Olavides, pers.comm.). Ohshima & Mitsukuri (1912) named the species for its propensity to eviscerate, noting: “As soon as the stone under which these animals live are lifted up, they throw off the viscera, even before they are touched in any way.” This species has the widest known distribution of any Phyrella, extending from Western Australia, through Indonesia and the Philippines, to Taiwan and Okinawa.Published as part of Michonneau, François & Paulay, Gustav, 2014, Revision of the genus Phyrella (Holothuroidea: Dendrochirotida) with the description of a new species from Guam, pp. 101-140 in Zootaxa 3760 (2) on pages 112-118, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3760.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/490832

Evolution 2015 tweets

<p>The list of tweets with the hashtag #evol2015 retrieved on July 1st using Twitter's API.</p

Phyrella bedoti Heding & Panning 1954

Phyrella? bedoti (Koehler, 1895) Figure 24 Phyllophorus bedoti Koehler, 1895: 278–279, fig. 1–2. Holotype: MHNG INVE82061; type locality: Baie d’Amboine Material examined: MNHG INVE82061 (Holotype), Indonesia, Maluku Islands, Ambon Island, Ambon Bay, 1890. Description. External morphology. Body wall soft, slightly contracted, covered with tube feet. Gray/light brown with irregular dark brown spots all over the body wall, tips of podia lighter (Fig. 24). 40 mm along dorsum, 55 mm along venter, and 23 mm wide. Apparently, the specimen was preserved with its introvert retracted which has been removed and is missing. Tube feet abundant, covering entire body, spread across radial and inter-radial areas without clear arrangement except towards oral end they converge in rows corresponding to the ambulacra. Described to have 17 tentacles, now missing. Internal anatomy. Polian vesicle, madreporite, stone canal are missing along with introvert and calcareous ring. Gonads in two tufts composed of thin, simple, unbranched tubes. Intestine fairly long, with fairly coarse sand. Both respiratory trees extend almost entire length of animal. Calcareous ring. Dissected out and missing, described as elongated, with both radials and inter-radials fragmented. Ossicle assemblage. Ossicles very corroded; only rare, small and indistinguishable fragments remain. Description notes rare, typical (4-pillared united by a single cross-beam, 8-holes, smooth-rimmed), with incomplete spire, tables. Remarks. This species, known only from the type, appears not to have been studied since its description. The reported fragmented inter-radials, regular tables, and 17 tentacles indicate it is a species of Phyrella rather than Phyllophorus. The loss of the type's introvert, calcareous ring, and the corrosion of its ossicles prevent effective comparison with species of Phyrella, and we regard it as species inquirenda. The type locality is the same as Thyonidiella oceana, and no character currently contradicts the synonymy of these two species. Fresh material from the type locality would be necessary to evaluate the status of this species. Ecology & Distribution. Only recorded from the type locality, Ambon, Indonesia.Published as part of Michonneau, François & Paulay, Gustav, 2014, Revision of the genus Phyrella (Holothuroidea: Dendrochirotida) with the description of a new species from Guam, pp. 101-140 in Zootaxa 3760 (2) on page 132, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3760.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/490832

Phyrella mookiei Michonneau & Paulay 2014, sp. nov.

Phyrella mookiei sp. nov. Figures 10–16; 27 h http://zoobank.org/ D3E02B0E-308A-4C67-A143-05DB64692E75 Material examined. Holotype: UF 10336, Guam, North end of Tumon Bay, Gun Beach, reef flat 0–1 m, 12 June 2010, coll. Nathaniel Evans, François Michonneau, Gustav Paulay, Arthur Anker. Paratypes: UF 4770, Guam, Pago Bay outer reef flat, 0–1 m, May 2003, coll. Gustav Paulay; UF 11539, Guam, Piti Power plant intake tunnel under road, 2 m, 17 September 2011, coll. David Burdick. Description. External morphology. Body wall soft, fairly thin, densely covered with tube feet. Beige (UF 4770, UF 11539) to off-white (UF 10336), with well-defined burgundy (UF 4770, UF 10336) to dark brown (UF 11539) spots either restricted to venter (UF 4770) or across entire body (UF 10336, UF 11539); area around introvert and cloaca with diffuse burgundy coloration in UF 10336 (Fig. 11A). Coloration in preservative similar to live after 3 years. Oral disc marbled with burgundy and white (Fig. 10, Fig. 11B). Tentacles dendritic with longstalk, with small dark spots at their extremities (Fig. 10, Fig. 11B). Body relatively straight when fully relaxed, contracting to U-shaped. Holotype 60 mm long along dorsum, 64 mm along venter and 18 mm wide; UF 4770, more contracted, 40 mm long along dorsum, 57 mm long along venter, and 23 mm wide; UF 11539 very contracted, 37 mm long along dorsum, 45 mm long along venter, and 16 mm wide. Introvert retracted in all specimens, 4 mm (UF 10336), 6 mm (UF 4770), and 12 mm (UF 11539) long. Tube feet abundant, evenly dispersed across radial and inter-radial areas, slightly denser ventrally, generally same color as body wall near base, lightening distally. Eighteen tentacles (10 on outer circle, 8 on inner circle) in UF 4770, ~17 tentacles in holotype based on live pictures (introvert retracted and not dissected). Cloacal membrane white; surrounded by 5 calcified anal teeth. Internal anatomy (UF 4770, UF 11539). Polian vesicle single, white, 5–7 mm long. Stone canal short (2 mm), partially embedded in membrane surrounding calcareous ring. Madreporite free, small (<1 mm), spherical. Gonads well developed in both dissected specimens, both tufts extending almost entire length of animal; gonadal tubules unbranched to dichotomously branched 1–3 times; white with minute burgundy spots (similar color to body wall), with spots more common proximally and distally (UF 4770); in UF 10336, oocytes are clearly discernible, white, aligned in a row, encased in the thin, translucent gonadal tube wall, with abundant, minute, burgundy spots. Both dissected specimens have eviscerated, retaining gonads, anterior fragment of esophagus, cloaca and both respiratory trees. Intestine (retained separately for UF 4770) distended where filled with fine sand and other debris. Respiratory trees white with minute burgundy spots that are much less abundant in UF 4770 than in UF 11549, both branches extending almost entire length of animal. Calcareous ring. Calcareous ring embedded in a fairly thin membrane, with highly fragmented radial and inter-radial elements (Fig. 27h). Anterior margins of radial plates unequally divided by well-formed notches. Anterior margins of inter-radial plates arrow-head shaped, more pointed and elongated in UF 4770 than UF 10336. Radial and inter-radial elements closely associated along most of their length. Inter-radials each composed of 5–12 elements. Radials each composed of 14–16 elements. Radials form posteriorly tails that curve to point anteriorly. Ossicle assemblage. Dorsal and ventral body wall with similar ossicle complements of tables and rosettes (Fig. 12A), latter more abundant dorsally than ventrally. Tables of variable forms; disc 70–125 µ m in diameter, with 10–25 µ m diameter central perforation, and 4–15 (8 in the most symmetrical tables) holes arranged in a ring (Fig. 13d) or dispersed more irregularly in more highly perforated discs (Fig. 13f), disc margin smooth (Fig. 13e) to undulating (Fig. 13f), to partially (Fig. 13a, Fig. 14m) or completely serrated, barely raised; spire absent (Fig. 13g –h), to partially (Fig. 14a–e) or well developed (Fig. 13a), when complete, formed by four pillars connected by a single cross-beam half way along spire; crown variable in diameter when present, forming a spiny ring when well developed (Fig. 13a,c). Podia with perforated plates, 130–185 µ m long, 70–100 µ m wide; wider and not as elongated as in P. fragilis or P. thyonoides; with large holes in center and smaller toward periphery; with large well-defined serrations, along at least part of the more convex margin (Fig. 13l–o; Fig. 14f–i, o–p). Cloacal body wall with tables and abundant rosettes. Tables of variable form ranging from similar to body wall tables (Fig. 15g), to others that show a much greater number of disc perforations (Fig. 15k); disc 75–85 µ m in diameter, rim typically more serrated in tables of cloacal region than elsewhere in body wall; spire absent (Fig. 15e), incomplete (Fig. 15m), or complete, ending in a crown with teeth or lateral projections (Fig. 15k). Podia near cloaca with abundant rosettes (Fig. 12C) and perforated plates; latter smaller (80–100 µ m long) and often narrower (40–60 µ m wide) than those elsewhere in body wall (Fig. 15c,d), some with unusual lateral extensions (Fig. 15a). Podia that flank anal teeth with rods and abundant rosettes; rods often with marked curvature; ends with 2–6 holes and sometimes small spines (Fig. 16a–d). Introvert with similar ossicle assemblage to cloacal region; with tables and abundant rosettes. Tables 95–105 µ m in diameter. Podia with abundant rosettes, and perforated plates. Perforated plates variable, ranging from similar to those from the body wall (Fig. 14u–v, x), to much smaller (80 µ m long), almost circular, with small perforations (Fig. 14w,y). Tentacles with rods, 50–65 µ m long, with one or no perforation at ends (Fig. 15n). No ossicles observed in cloacal, longitudinal and retractor muscles; cloaca; intestine; gonads; and respiratory tree. Etymology. Named after Mookie, the dog of our collection assistant Ms. Mandy Bemis, because the “woolly” appearance and color of this species is similar to the soft coat of wheaten terriers, the breed to which Mookie belongs. Remarks. Phyrella mookiei resembles P. fragilis externally, but the ossicle assemblage and color pattern distinguish the two. In P. mookiei, holes in the disc of the tables are smaller, the margins of the disc are often at least partially serrated, the crowns are often more complete and wider; the perforated plates of the podia are shorter and wider; and the irregular tables in cloacal region have many holes in their rim. Rosettes occur throughout the body wall in P. mookiei but are restricted to introvert and near-cloacal body wall in other Phyrella. While both species have a beige-tan base color, the well-defined dark spotting distinguishes P. mookiei. Ecology & distribution. The specimens were found in shallow waters (<2 m), under rocks, in coarse coralline sediments in areas of high flow. Phyrella mookiei is currently only known from Guam, where it is fairly rare.Published as part of Michonneau, François & Paulay, Gustav, 2014, Revision of the genus Phyrella (Holothuroidea: Dendrochirotida) with the description of a new species from Guam, pp. 101-140 in Zootaxa 3760 (2) on pages 118-124, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3760.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/490832