Staurothyone inconspicua (Bell)

O'Loughlin, P. Mark, Eichler, John, Altoff, Leon, Falconer, Audrey, Mackenzie, Melanie, Whitfield, Emily & Rowley, Chris, 2009, Observations of reproductive strategies for some dendrochirotid holothuroids (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea: Dendrochirotida), Memoirs of Museum Victoria 66 (2), pp. 215-220 : 216-217

Coelomic fissiparity by Staurothyone inconspicua (Bell)

Brood juveniles (45) removed from the coelom of a female Staurothyone inconspicua (Bell, 1887) from Opossum Bay in SE Tasmania are of different sizes and many show mid-body constrictions (fig. 2a; NMV F58613). One coelomic juvenile from another specimen from Opossum Bay shows a deep mid-body constriction (fig. 2b; NMV F58456). For this seasonally reproducing and coelomic brood-protecting species (see Materia et al. 1991), and with an assumption of a single fertilization event, these observations suggest intra-coelomic brood fissiparity and cloning. However, dissection of coelomic juveniles has to date failed to reveal confirming evidence of a coelomic juvenile that lacks a calcareous ring.

Balser(2004) reportedoncloningbylarvaeofechinoderms, including holothuroids. The evidence here indicates probable intra-coelomic cloning by a holothuroid.