Psolidiella mollis (Ludwig and Heding 1935)
- Dataset
- Observations of reproductive strategies for some dendrochirotid holothuroids (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea: Dendrochirotida)
- Rank
- SPECIES
Classification
- kingdom
- Animalia
- phylum
- Echinodermata
- class
- Holothuroidea
- order
- Dendrochirotida
- family
- Cucumariidae
- genus
- Psolidiella
- species
- Psolidiella mollis
description
Psolidiella mollis (Ludwig & Heding, 1935) is an additional species of Antarctic dendrochirotid holothuroid that broodprotects in marsupia (see Table 1). Males have a long genital papilla (NMV F 157414), and females have up to five anterior interradial internal marsupia (fig. 3 a; NMV F 104865). One female from Bouvet Island (fig. 3 b; NMV F 104882) has 46 and 60 differentiated embryos (3 – 4 mm long) in each of two marsupia, and 52, 53, and 60 undifferentiated eggs or embryos (1.3 mm long) in each of three marsupia, evidence of two fertilization events.