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Family: Chiridotidae
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Bocas Species Database Distribution: Caribbean Natural History Notes: C. rotifera internally broods up to 500 embryos. The slow-moving juveniles can attach to marine plants or flotsam, and disperse great distances riding ocean currents. Depth: Low-tide mark to 10 m, most common less than 1 m. Characteristics: These holothuroids can reach 10 cm, but most are less than 5 cm long, with an approximate diameter of 5 mm. The mouth is surrounded by 12 digitate tentacles, each bearing four lateral pairs and one terminal pair of digits. Although the body is covered with wartlike protuberances and appears rough and bumpy, the body wall is smooth and slimy. The skin between the warts is semitransparent, and internal structures are visible. The body wall is pink or red and the wheel warts are a conspicuous and contrasting white. |