Laboratory Culture of the Aeolid Nudibranch Berghia verrucicornis (Mollusca, Opisthobranchia): Some Aspects of Its Development and Life History

Adult Berghia verrucicornis individuals lay white, spiral egg masses containing zygotes. Egg masses are easily cultured in aerated, Millipore-filtered, seasoned aquarium water. Development proceeds quickly, with the bilobed velum apparent by the end of the second day, and the larval shell appearing...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Biological bulletin (Lancaster) 1990-12, Vol.179 (3), p.243-253
Main Authors: Carroll, David J., Kempf, Stephen C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aiptasia pallida
Animal reproduction
Berghia verrucicornis
Biological and medical sciences
Capsules
Cnidaria
Cultures (Biology)
Cultures and culture media
Development and Reproduction
Egg masses
Eggs
Embryos
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Growth
Hatching
Invertebrates
Larvae
Larval development
Life cycle. Embryology. Development
Marine
Metamorphosis
Mollusca
Mollusks
Nudibranchia
Nudibranchiata
Nudibranchs
Opisthobranchia
Opisthobranchs
Physiology. Development
Sea slugs
Sea water
Young animals
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Summary:Adult Berghia verrucicornis individuals lay white, spiral egg masses containing zygotes. Egg masses are easily cultured in aerated, Millipore-filtered, seasoned aquarium water. Development proceeds quickly, with the bilobed velum apparent by the end of the second day, and the larval shell appearing at the beginning of the third day after oviposition. Hatching occurs 11 to 12 days after oviposition (23.9 ± 1.3°C). If egg masses are incubated without aeration, poecilogonous development is observed; both larvae and juveniles hatch from the same undisturbed egg mass. The larvae metamorphose soon after hatching, losing the velum and larval shell. A habitat-specific inducer is not required for metamorphosis; but a factor associated with the sea anemone Aiptasia pallida appears to enhance a larva's tendency to metamorphose. Juveniles begin feeding on A. pallida three to four days after metamorphosis. Reproductive maturity is achieved as early as 47 days after oviposition. Because B. verrucicornis can be cultured, along with its prey A. pallida, at inland facilities, this nudibranch species may be a useful model for laboratory-oriented life history and neurobiological investigations.
ISSN:0006-3185
1939-8697
DOI:10.2307/1542315