How can an infaunal brooding echinoid be maintained in the laboratory? A case study with Cassidulus mitis (Echinoidea: Cassiduloida)

Introduction: Cassiduloids play a prominent role in echinoid evolutionary history because they probably are the ancestral group of clypeasteroids. Some extant species brooding and rare environment. Consequently, there no studies on their maintenance laboratory. Objective: Establish an efficient aquarium system for C. mitis, endemic to Brazil, ontogenetic studies. Methods: Four systems were built, with 3 replicates each one: (1) seawater flow [F]; (2) air injection into sediment [FA]; (3) without but [A]; (4) both [C]. Each experimental (three per treatment) had two adults. sets experiments lasted about 60 days. Results: We observed low mortality first 30 days all and, after days, it was higher those air-pumped (system A set experiments, FA second one). Conclusions: For lasting our four suitable. longer periods, we recommend aquaria air-pumps sediment.