Ascidies littorales de Guadeloupe I. Didemnidae

Abstract

In shallow waters, around of Guadeloupe island, nineteen species of Didemnid Ascidians were collected, ten of which are new. The genus Leptoclinides is recorded in the West Indies for the first time. The species are described and illustrated ; they are listed in a tabular key. A discussion is given about the importance of several organs of the zooids for the evolution of the family. The larval structure can be used to compare genera which, in our opinion, cannot be placed along a straight evolutionary line.