Reproductive features in the sea cucumber Pentactella perrieri (Ekman, 1927) (Holothuroidea: Cucumariidae): a brooding hermaphrodite species from the southwestern Atlantic Ocean

摘要: Cucumariidae (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) is a family of sea cucumbers known for displaying different reproductive strategies, including brooding and hermaphroditism. These strategies marine invertebrates are key feature, since it strongly related to evolutionary ecological aspects. According the place in which offsprings grown, can be classified six groups, underneath ventral sole, among tentacles, brood pouches, dorsal pockets, perivisceral coelom ovary. The last two groups restricted few studied cucumariids, with only one previous report southwestern Atlantic Ocean. Specimens Pentactella perrieri along its distribution (including Burdwood Bank/MPA Namuncura Subantarctic area) were analyzed, using morphological observations internal external features. We found first time, that P. hermaphroditic species identified as brooder. between 7 up 11 brooded individuals, 3 mm length, inside 2 thin spherical transparent brood-sacs, opening. Oocytes 1600 µm May, being largest family. It was also month mean oocytes size (778.38 ± 611.40 µm, N = 2). This research contributes study many adopt.