Observations on development, larval growth and metamorphosis of four species of aplysiidae (gastropoda: Opisthobranchia) in laboratory culture

摘要: Abstract The development of simple, reliable techniques for the laboratory culture aplysiid gastropods through their complete life cycle, has enabled us to study larval biology, metamorphosis, and early juvenile these animals. Egg masses, duration embryonic phase, veligers, growth are described four species Hawaiian Aplysiidae, namely, Aplysia dactylomela Rang, Juliana Quoy Gaimard, Dolabella auricularia (Lightfoot) Stylocheilus longicauda (Quoy Gaimard). Metamorphosis A. in detail with additional comments on processes other three species. Length phase size veliger at hatching a function uncleaved egg. All develop planktotrophically have ≈ 30-day phases. In each includes period rapid shell species-specific followed by non-growth during which morphological developments occur culminate metamorphic competence. larvae metamorphose preferentially particular benthic algae. events metamorphosis require 2 4 days completion transform planktonic filter-feeding larva into benthic, radular-feeding juvenile. Postlarval shell, parapodia, oral tentacles, rhinophores, anal siphon, structures mantle cavity.