Aspidochirotida

Pawson, David L., Pawson, Doris J. & King, Rachael A., 2010, A taxonomic guide to the Echinodermata of the South Atlantic Bight, USA: 1. Sea cucumbers (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea), Zootaxa 2449, pp. 1-48 : 12

Key to members of the Order Aspidochirotida known from the South Atlantic Bight

1. Gonad in two tufts, one to each side of the dorsal mesentery. Tables and C-shaped ossicles present. (Family Stichopodidae ) ......................................................................................................................... Isostichopus badionotus

- Gonad in one tuft, lying on the left side of the dorsal mesentery. Tables present, usually accompanied by buttons or plates or rods, no C-shaped ossicles. (Family Holothuriidae ) ..................................................................................... 2

2. Calcified anal teeth present....................................................................................................... … Actinopyga agassizii

- Calcified anal teeth absent. ........................................................................................................................................... 3

3. Ossicles tables with disc reduced to a simple X-shape; no accompanying buttons, plates, or rods.............................. ..................................................................................................................... Holothuria (Semperothuria) surinamensis

- Ossicles tables with disc not reduced; buttons or plates also present .......................................................................... 4

4. Ossicles tables accompanied by buttons which are irregular, twisted, and knobbed, or regular and knobbed ....... ….5

- Ossicles tables accompanied by smooth buttons or smooth perforated plates ............................................................. 6

5. Ossicles buttons, irregular and twisted; huge tack-like tables in feet.................... Holothuria (Theelothuria) princeps

- Ossicles buttons regular, with numerous knobs. No huge tack-like tables............ Holothuria (Holothuria) dakarensis