Stolus cognatus (Lampert 1885)

This species has been recorded from the Caribbean Sea off Panama (USNM E 22631), however, the specimen label is unclear.

Lampert, K. (1885). Die Seewalzen (Holothurioidea). In: C. Semper, (ed.). Reisen im Archipel der Philippinen. Wiesbaden (2)4(3): 1-312, 1 pl.

Pawson, D. L., D. J. Vance, C. G. Messing, F. A. Solis-Marin, and C. L. Mah. (2009). Echinodermata of the Gulf of Mexico, Pp. 1177–1204 in Felder, D.L. and D.K. Camp (eds.), Gulf of Mexico–Origins, Waters, and Biota. Biodiversity. Texas A&M Press, College S.

Alvarado, J.J., F.A. Solis-Marin & C. Ahearn. (2008). Equinodermos (Echinodermata) del Caribe Centroamericano. Rev.Biol.Trop. 56 (Suppl. 3): 37-55.

World Register of Marine Species

LSID urn:lsid:marinespecies.org:taxname:422531

Semperia cognata Lampert, 1885

“This small to moderate sized species attains a maximum length of 15 cm (6 in); most individuals are 5-10 cm (24 in) long. The body is strongly curved and spindle-shaped; tapering is most pronounced at the posterior end, where the body wall forms a rigid anal cone. The small and inconspicuous tube feet are arranged in five bands along the radii and are scattered in the interradii. The body wall is thin, stiff, and slightly gritty. The small tube feet and the numerous ossicles in the body wall give the skin a very smooth appearance. The mouth is surrounded by 10 small tentacles of nearly equal length. The body wall ossicles are large, elongate plates with uneven margins and usually two rows of perforations. The feet contain slightly curved rods with perforations at each end and an expanded portion near the middle. The body wall is white or grayish with a peppering of brown or black pigment. In living animals, a few of the tube feet along the lateral margin are bright red or yellow. The tentacles are grayish brown. Deichmann (1939) reported that several individuals collected in Biscayne Bay, off Miami, Florida, were a mottled reddish brown” (Hendler, Miller, Pawson, Kier 275).

“Seagrass beds among the roots of Syringodium or Thalassia” (Hendler, Miller, Pawson, Kier 276).

“Off Florida, at Key Largo (Martin, personal communication), Key West, and reportedly common south of Cape Florida (Biscayne Bay), and around the Dry Tortugas. Also known from Cuba, the Yucatan, Venezuela, Aruba, and Brazil. Depth: Less than 3 m (less than 12 ft)” (Hendler, Miller, Pawson, Kier 276).

“S. cognatus lives in a shallow, U-shaped burrow, with its mouth and anus slightly extended above the substrate (Miller, previously unpublished)” (Hendler, Miller, Pawson, Kier 276).