title: An annotated description of shallow water holothurians (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) from Cayos Cochinos, Honduras.
abstract: Taxonomic and biological aspects are presented on five species of shallow water holothurians from the Cayos Cochinos Biological Reserve-CCBR located on the northern Honduran shelf, western Caribbean at 16 degrees N, 86 degrees W. This article provides a taxonomic key of the recorded holothurians and morphometric/morphologic descriptions of their corresponding spicules. These five species belong to a single order (Aspidochirotida) and two families: Stichopodidae (Isostichopus badionotus) and Holothuriidae (Holothuria mexicana, H. thomasi, H. arenicola and Actinopyga agassizi). In addition, the commensal pearlfish, Carapus bermudensis is recorded from H. mexicana and A. agassizi.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Biological Sciences, University of Hull, Kingston upon Hull, HU6 7RX, UK. crhasbun@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Carlos Roberto
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Hasbún
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Lawrence
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006721:Honduras; D012616:Sea Cucumbers / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification*; D012623:Seawater