PELAGIC JUVENILES OF THE DEEP-SEA ELASIPODID HOLOTHURIANS - NEW RECORDS AND REVIEW

Description is given of pelagic juveniles of Peniagone diaphana, P. is landica, Psychropotes longicauda, P. depressa, P. semperiana, Bentodyt es sp., caught in the North Atlantic and ranging from 3 to 21 mm in le ngth. New records of pelagic juveniles of Enypniastes eximia, 4 to 8 m m long, are also reported. All of the juveniles have the adult body pl an. The juvenile features observed: fewer tentacles than in adults, fe wer ambulacral appendages forming the velum or postanal fans, and lack of an intestinal loop. Spicules of the juveniles, present in Peniagon e and Psychropotes, are of the adult type and are characterized by bei ng more slender than in adults with slightly shorter arms and less dev eloped spines. A review of pelagic juvenile stages in elasipodids is g iven.