Evolution of development type in benthic octopuses: holobenthic or pelago-benthic ancestor?

摘要: Octopuses of the family Octopodidae are singular among cephalopods in their reproductive behavior, showing two major strategies: first is production few and large eggs resulting well-developed benthic hatchlings (holobenthic life history); second strategy numerous small free-swimming planktonic (pelago-benthic history). Here, we utilize a Bayesian-based phylogenetic comparative method using robust molecular phylogeny 59 octopus species to reconstruct ancestral states development type octopuses, through estimation most recent common ancestors rate gain loss complexity (i.e., larvae) during evolution. We found high probability that hatchling was state similar larvae These results suggest octopuses holobenthic has evolved from an pelago-benthic history. During evolution, paralarval stage reduced hatchlings, which supports “larva-first” hypothesis. propose origin history associated with colonization cold deep sea waters.