Authors : M. Soltani, K. Radkhah, M.S. Mortazavi and M. Gharibniya
Abstract: This study presents preliminary results on the early development and growth of the sea cucumber Holothuria leucospilota in the Bostane equatic ecosystem on the coast of Persian Gulf. For this purpose, spawning was induced by thermal stimulation after fertilization, embryos were incubated under optimal conditions (salinity between 38-40 and temperature 33 degrees) until reached the late uricholaria stage. In order to study the developmental stages and the timing of each stage including cleavage, morula, blastula, gastrula, early auricularia, auricularia, late auricularia the embryos were studied by light microscopic studies. Observations showed that after 120 h from fertilization time, the embryos developed to late auricularia stage.
M. Soltani, K. Radkhah, M.S. Mortazavi and M. Gharibniya, 2010. Early Development of the Sea Cucumber Holothuria leucospilota. Research Journal of Animal Sciences, 4: 72-76.