Polycheira

Taxobox
name = Polycheira

---

image_width = 250px
image_caption = "Polycheira rufescens"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Echinodermata
classis = Holothuroidea
subclassis = Apodacea
ordo = Apodida
familia = Chiridotidae
genus = "Polycheira"
genus_authority = Eschscholtz, 1829
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = see text.

"Polycheira" is a genus of holothurians (sea cucumbers) found in tropical Indo-Pacific.

A curious pattern of reproduction has been found in "Polycheira rufescens", where specimens change their sex from male to female and from female to male in a reproductive season [Arakaki,S. et al.,Sex change and spatial distribution pattern in an intertidal holothurian Polycheira rufescens in the reproductive season. Res. Popul. Ecol. 1999, vol. 41, No 3]

ystematics

"Polycheira" appear to be closely related to the genus "Chiridota" (both belong to the subfamily Chiridotinae) [Kerr,A.M. Phylogeny of the Apodan Holothurians (Echinodermata) inferred from morphology. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society (2001), 133] . The type species of the genus is "Polycheira rufescens" (Brandt, 1835).

Species include [ [http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=206622 MarineSpecies.org - Polycheira ] ] :
*"Polycheira fusca"
*"Polycheira rufescens" (="Chirodota rufescens")
*"Polycheira vitiensis"

References