Geographical variation in morphological and electrophoretic characters in the holothurian Cucumaria curata

Both morphological and electrophoretic isozyme variation were examined in Cucumaria curata Cowles, 1907, a common intertidal holothurian of the West Coast of North America. This species has also been described under the name C. pseudocurata Deichmann, 1938. Thirteen populations were sampled. Spicule density, and shape, tentacle size and number of papillae at the male gonopore were determined. Five of the populations were examined for variability in 8 isozymes. Spicule densities varied between populations by more than an order of magnitude. The spicule shapes were the same for all populations although the ratios of the different types varied. No relationship was found between geographical location or habitat and any of the morphological characters. No polymorphisms or variation between populations were found in any of the 8 enzymes analyzed by electrophoresis. However, the morphological data indicate random differentiation between populations. The data indicate the existence of only a single species and thus the name C. pseudocurata should be considered a synonym of C. curata.Contribution No. 2 of the Bodega Marine Sciences Association and PACTREX Report No. 2.