Abstract:
In this study we have re-evaluated the taxonomic status of some sea cucumber species from the
Holothuria genera sampled at a station on the Mostaganem coast. The systematic evaluation was
carried out through a more detailed study on the geometric morphology of the ossicles of the two
morphotypes of Holothuria (Holothuria) tubulosa (A & B) and Holothuria (Roweothuria)
arguinensis. The statistical methods used (discriminant factor analysis and hierarchical
classification) confirmed clear and highly significant differences between the individuals of the
two morphotypes. According to the results, the morphotype "A" corresponds to the classical
Holothuria (Holothuria) tubulosa previously described by Kohler (1921); while the morphotype
"B" corresponds to an ecotype species of Holothuria tubulosa. Similarly, our study has focused
on the relationship between the morothype A of Holothuria (Holothuira) tubulosa and the
invasive species Holothuria (Roweothuria) arguinensis. This last result corroborates with those
obtained in the literature.
