A redescription of Leptosynapta clarki Heding (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) from the northeast Pacific, with notes on changes in spicule form and size with age

Abstract

Leptosynapta clarki is redescribed on the basis of the type material and new collections from Bamfield and Gabriola Island, British Columbia, and False Bay, San Juan Island, Washington. Both intraspecific and zoogeographic variations are recorded. Further, notes are added on changes in spicule form and the size of the anchor plates with age in a single population of the species from Grappler Inlet, Bamfield. Leptosynapta roxtona Heding, 1928, described from three fragments, is declared a synonym of L. clarki, and L. lens Heding, 1928 a synonym of L. albicans (Selenka, 1867). Leptosynapta transgressor Heding, 1928 is suspected to be a subtidal ecological variant of L. clarki, but is tentatively retained until living material becomes available.