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Family: Echinoderidae
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Bocas Species Database Habitat: Patches of coral sand between corals, 1m depth Natural History Notes: In Latin, “intermedius” means “in between” and refers to the species’ phylogenetic position between E. hispanicus and E. newcaledoniensis. Characteristics: This new species has an average trunk length of 268 µm and an average standard width of 44 µm. Segment 4 has subdorsal, sublateral and ventrolateral tubules; segment 7 presents lateroventral tubules; segment 10 has laterodorsal tubules and segment 12 has subdorsal tubules. Regarding the spine formula, the species possesses middorsal spines on segments 6, 8, 10 that increase in length posteriorly. It also has lateroventral spines on segment 11 and lateroventral and accessory spines on segments 8-10. There is an absence of eyes in the head. Sensory spots are present and consist of a central pore situated in a cuticular depression and within the depression the pore is surrounded by a ring of thickened papillae. Thinner papillae are present at the edges of the cuticular depression. Cuticular hairs are present on the segments and are fairly long. E. intermedius can be distinguished from the other species of this genus by the presence of much broader trichoscalid plates on the ventromedial placids and the absence of sublateral sensory pores on segment 11. Notes: Holotype: Adult female; Allotype: Adult male |