Asexual Reproduction in Holothurians

Figure 2

Scheme of regeneration of internal organs after fission in holothurians. (a) Animal before fission. (b) Anterior fragment just after fission. (c) Formation of gut and cloaca in anterior fragment. (d) Formation of respiratory trees in anterior fragment. (e) Growth of the posterior part of the body. (f) Posterior fragment just after fission. (g) Formation of AC and gut rudiments in posterior fragment. (h) Posterior fragment with regenerated internal organs. (i) Growth of the anterior part of the body. ac: aquapharyngeal complex; bw: body wall; c: cloaca; g: gut; gn: gonad; lmb: longitudinal muscle band; m: mesentery; rt: respiratory tree; t: tentacles. Dotted line: site of division of the body during fission.