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Distribution and swimming ability of the deep-sea holothuroid Penilpidia ludwigi (Holothuroidea: Elasipodida: Elpidiidae)

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Abstract

The deep-sea elpidiid holothuroid, Penilpidia ludwigi, was recorded using a Remotely Operated Vehicle in the Western, Central, and Eastern Mediterranean Sea. This species, endemic to the basin, was previously captured above the seabed in sediment traps and based on these records its swimming ability was assumed. The present study reports the first in situ observations of swimming P. ludwigi and provides an update on the geographic and bathymetric distribution of this species. A large aggregation of thousands of specimens was observed in the Levantine Sea with a maximum local density 300 ind. m−2. The ROV surveys allowed observation of the behavior of the species and description of its mode of swimming. Active swimming using strokes of the tentacle crown is combined with drifting benefiting of the current, the former used for fast escape the latter mainly for energy-saving displacement. Swimming behavior allows P. ludwigi to exploit various deep-sea habitats including seamounts, canyons, and ridges inaccessible to non-swimming deposit feeders.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by the MAVA Fondation pour la Nature, IF International Foundation, Smile-Wave Fund, Pictet Charitable Foundation, Adessium Foundation, Robertson Foundation, the Foundation for the Third Millennium, Fundación Biodiversidad, Spanish Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente, and National Geographic (Grant EC-176R-18).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology , University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via Orabona 4, 70125, Bari, Italy

    G. Chimienti & F. Mastrototaro

  2. CoNISMa, Rome, Italy

    G. Chimienti & F. Mastrototaro

  3. Oceana, Madrid, Spain

    R. Aguilar

  4. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia

    A. V. Gebruk

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  1. G. Chimienti
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  2. R. Aguilar
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  3. A. V. Gebruk
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  4. F. Mastrototaro
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Correspondence to G. Chimienti.

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All necessary permits for sampling and observational field studies have been obtained by the authors from the competent authorities. The study is compliant with CBD and Nagoya protocols.

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Communicated by S. Stöhr

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Chimienti, G., Aguilar, R., Gebruk, A.V. et al. Distribution and swimming ability of the deep-sea holothuroid Penilpidia ludwigi (Holothuroidea: Elasipodida: Elpidiidae). Mar Biodiv 49, 2369–2380 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12526-019-00973-9

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