SPAIN , D; SCOTT, C; NGUYEN HONG, L; SWANSON, J; Dominican University of California; Dominican University of California; Dominican University of California; Dominican University of California: PERISTALTIC LOCOMOTION IN HOLOTHURIA HILLA (: HOLOTHUROIDEA:ASPIDOCHIROTIDA)

Different types of peristaltic locomotion are used by numerous soft bodied invertebrates such as caterpillars and earthworms. Several species of holothuroids have been described as using peristaltic locomotion although the specific type of peristalsis was not documented. Previous research suggests that direct arching peristalsis is used by some epifaunal aspidochirotid species but infaunal species have not been studied. Our research investigates the locomotion of Holothuria hilla, a tropical infaunal aspidochirotid. The locomotion of this holothuroid was studied using real time and time-lapse videorecordings. Analysis of the videorecordings indicates that this species primarily uses direct arching peristalsis. This provides evidence supporting the theory that both infaunal and epifaunal aspidochirotids use the same type of locomotion, direct arching peristalsis. An additional component of this research is focused on collecting on stride period and body length to calculate stride velocity. Stride velocity is the time for a complete peristaltic wave to travel the length of the animal.