Morphological and mechanical aspects of fission in Ophiocomella ophiactoides (Echinodermata, Ophiuroida)

During fission the ophiuroid O. ophiactoides splits across the disc into two halves each of which regenerates to form a complete individual. This paper describes the gross anatomy of the fission plane and the histology, ultrastructure, and mechanical properties of key structures, transected during f...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Zoomorphology 1984-10, Vol.104 (5), p.310-322
Main Authors: WILKIE, I. C, EMSON, R. H, MLADENOV, P. V
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Echinodermata
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Invertebrates
Marine
Ophiocomella ophiactoides
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:During fission the ophiuroid O. ophiactoides splits across the disc into two halves each of which regenerates to form a complete individual. This paper describes the gross anatomy of the fission plane and the histology, ultrastructure, and mechanical properties of key structures, transected during fission. Rupture of the disc integrment appears not to be facilitated by a pre-determined plane of weakness. Comparison of naturally split and artificially split animals showed that at fission a mechanism operates which restricts breakage to the interradial plane of two jaws. The interradial plane is subtended mainly by collagenous ligaments and by muscles linked to the skeletal components by basal lamina-like tendinous fibres. No fission-related adaptations could be identified in the oesophagus, circumoral nerve ring, or circumoral water vascular canal.
ISSN:0720-213X
1432-234X
DOI:10.1007/BF00312013