Primer registro del pepino de mar garra de león Euapta godeffroyi Semper, 1868 (Holothuroidea: Apodida: Synaptidae) en la isla Gorgona, Pacífico colombiano

Researchers document the first occurrence of the lion's paw sea cucumber, Euapta godeffroyi, at Isla Gorgona, a UNESCO World Heritage Site off Colombia's Pacific coast. This discovery extends the known range of the species in the Eastern Tropical Pacific, filling a critical gap in its distribution. The specimen, measuring approximately 80 cm in length and 2-3 cm in diameter, was collected via autonomous diving at a shallow coral patch (El Arrecifito del Muelle) near the island's shore. Analysis of its skeletal ossicles—primarily anchors and anchor plates with branched bases—confirms its identification. The finding underscores the biodiversity significance of Isla Gorgona, where 11 of the 34 recorded sea cucumber species in Colombian waters have been observed.

Londoño-Cruz, E. (2020). Primer registro del pepino de mar garra de león Euapta godeffroyi Semper, 1868 (Holothuroidea: Apodida: Synaptidae) en la isla Gorgona, Pacífico colombiano. Boletín de Investigaciones Marinas Y Costeras, 49(SuplEsp), 229–236. https://doi.org/10.25268/bimc.invemar.2020.49.suplesp.1036