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For identification of lee itho trophic larvae, the significant characteristics 

 are the number and arrangement of ciliated bands in the doliolaria, and the 

 presence or absence of ambulacral podia and the shape of the tentacles in 

 the pentactula. 



The diagnostic features for the larvae of sea cucumbers are given below: 



1 . In the auricularia stage : 



a. presence or absence of lateral processes; 



b. shape of the lower end of the larva; 



c. presence, number, and shape of calcite ossicles; 



d. presence, number and arrangement of elastic spheres in the late 

 auricularia; 



e. color of larva. 



2. In the doliolaria stage : 



a. presence, number, and shape of ciliated bands; 



b. presence, number, and shape of calcite ossicles; 



c. color of larva. 



3. In the pentactula stage : 



a. presence, number, and shape of calcite ossicles; 



b. presence or absence of first ambulacral podia; 



c. number of ambulacral podia; 



d. shape of primary tentacles. 



Key to Families Based on Eggs 



1 (2). Eggs large, oval, buoyant, reddish-green Cucumariidae 



2 (1). Eggs small, spherical, grayish Stichopodidae 



Key to Families Based on Larvae in the Doliolaria Stage 



1 (2). Larva large, opaque and completely covered with short cilia. No 



calcite ossicles in the basal part Cucumariidae sensu lato 



2 (1). Larva small, transparent, with incomplete cover of short cilia and 



five transverse ciliated bands. Calcite ossicles present in the basal 

 part Stichopodidae {Stichopus japonicus ) 



Key to Families Based on Larvae in the Pentactula Stage 



1 (2). Primary tentacles with five papillae. Ciliated bands absent 



Cucumariidae 



2 (1). Primary tentacles lack papillae. Ciliated bands present. ....... 



Stichopodidae {Stichopus japonicus) 



