Potential for Asexual Propagation of Several Commercially Important Species of Tropical Sea Cucumber (Echinodermata)

Six species of tropical sea cucumbers (Echinodermata) of high to moderate commercial value were evaluated as to their potential for being propagated asexually by induction of transverse fission. The species considered were Thelenota ananas, Holothuria fuscogilva, Actinopyga mauritiana, A. miliaris, Stichopus chloronotus , and S. variegatus . Rubber bands placed midbody on the sea cncumbers provided an effective yet simple technique to induce transverse fission. Although fission could be induced in all six species, only T. ananas and S. chloronotus had the ability to regenerate both anterior and posterior parts into whole animals. Other species showed no or low potential for regeneration ( H. fuscogilva, A. mauritiana ) or regeneration of only the posterior part into whole animals ( S. variegatus, A. miliaris ). Both T. ananas and S. chloronotus had survivorship of nearly 80% or greater. S. chloronotus regenerated anterior and posterior parts into whole animals within 3 mo. In contrast, T. ananas regenerated the posterior part into a whole animal within 5 mo while the anterior part was regenerated within 7 mo. Consequently, weight recovery began earlier with S. chloronotus relative to T. ananas .