Early development of Monoplex pilearis and Monoplex parthenopeus (Gastropoda: Cymatiidae): biology and morphology

Members of family Cymatiidae have an unusually long planktonic larval life stage (veligers) which allows them to be carried within ocean currents and become distributed worldwide. However, little is known about these planktonic veligers and identification of the larval state of many Cymatiidae is ch...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Organisms diversity & evolution 2020-03, Vol.20 (1), p.51-62
Main Authors: Turner, Ashlin H., Kaas, Quentin, Craik, David J., Schroeder, Christina I.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography
Biodiversity
Biology
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Current distribution
Developmental Biology
Developmental stages
Electron microscopy
Evolutionary Biology
Gastropoda
Hatching
Image quality
Incubation
Incubation period
Larvae
Life Sciences
Marine molluscs
Morphology
Morphometry
Ocean currents
Original Article
Ova
Plant Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography
Scanning electron microscopy
Species
Statistical analysis
Statistical methods
Veligers
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Summary:Members of family Cymatiidae have an unusually long planktonic larval life stage (veligers) which allows them to be carried within ocean currents and become distributed worldwide. However, little is known about these planktonic veligers and identification of the larval state of many Cymatiidae is challenging at best. Here, we describe the first high-quality scanning electron microscopy images of the developing veliger larvae of Monoplex pilearis and Monoplex parthenopeus (Gastropoda: Cymatiidae). The developing shell of Monoplex veligers was captured by SEM, showing plates secreted to form the completed shell. The incubation time of the two species was recorded and found to be different; M. parthenopeus took 24 days to develop fully and hatch out of the egg capsules, whereas M. pilearis took over a month to leave the egg capsule. Using scanning electron microscopy and geometric morphometrics, the morphology of veliger larvae was compared. No significant differences were found between the shapes of the developing shell between the two species; however, it was found that M. pilearis was significantly larger than M. parthenopeus upon hatching. Although statistical analysis did not find morphological differences, this study concludes biological differences do exist between these two closely related species of Monoplex .
ISSN:1439-6092
1618-1077
DOI:10.1007/s13127-020-00432-5