Development to metamorphosis of the nemertean pilidium larva.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The nemertean pilidium is one of the most notable planktotrophic larval types among marine invertebrates. The juvenile forms inside the larva from a series of isolated rudiments, called the imaginal discs. The development culminates in catastrophic metamorphosis, in which the larval body is consumed by the juvenile worm. Although the pilidium was first described in 1847, and is commonly found among marine plankton, there is not a single complete description of its development. The few published studies of pilidial development are based on observations of typically unidentified larvae opportunistically collected from plankton at various developmental stages.

Results

The development of Micrura alaskensis, a common Northwest Pacific coast intertidal nemertean, is des

SUBMITTER: Maslakova SA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3014920 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature