Chiridotidae is a family of sea cucumbers found in the order Apodida. Within the family, there are 16 recognized genera all with different ranges of body types and functions.[1] Sea cucumbers play a fundamental role in many marine ecosystems.[2]
Members in this family have 10, 12, or 18 pelto-digitate tentacles. They lack podia, radial canals, a respiratory tree, and papillae.[3][4][5] However, their body structure does include ossicles, tentacles, a calcareous ring, and a ciliary urn.
Chiridotidae typically undergo direct development and can usually be found in benthic ecosystems. Within their benthic systems they feed off of detritus meaning they must have a digestive tract.
There is a subfamily of Chiridotidae, Chiridotinae, that is classified by the absence of an even number of tentacles.[7]
During the developmental stages of Chiridotidae, the gastrula develops directly into the doliolaria larvae, with no Auricularia stage, this means that they typically undergo direct development.[8] Direct development allows for the internal brooding of their young within the coelom or ovaries.[7] They gain their nutrition during developmental stages through a Lecithotrophic pathway, which is made easier by their benthic habitat during these stages.[8] Researchers have discovered that Chiridotidae reach their asymptotic range size at 10 cells.[8]
Sea cucumbers are a mostly nocturnal animals.[9] It has been found that they are dependent on light for the regulation of body processes.[9]