Growth and molting in epizoic pedunculate barnacles genus Octolasmis (Crustacea: Thecostraca: Cirripedia: Thoracica).

摘要: Scanning electron microscopy, light and histology were used to study growth in species of the pedunculate barnacle genus Octolasmis (O. angulata, O. cor, californiana, mulleri). These are epizoic gill chamber portunid crabs have highly reduced capitular shell plates, with large areas general cuticle between. The external integument grows by means a system narrow zones, one encircling peduncle Y-shaped on either side capitulum. Growth is regular series molts, but shedding old production new layers entirely restricted zones. Just prior ecdysis, lies folded fashion beneath that about be shed. At breaks along margins zones resulting scars remain as “ecdysial lines” zone. Once exposed after remains part permanent integument. divide externa into five cuticular areas, two three calcareous plates (carina, paired scuta, and, when present, terga) all lie within regions ecdysial lines pass across, not around, these mineralized areas. number, relative spacing, topology form record history specimen. other patterns demonstrate size increase due formation molting while expansion mineralization follows only cuticle. Thus, although specialized, still complies crustacean model, complicated parts plates. results compared very scarce information barnacles. We argue at least circular peduncular zone omnipresent Cirripedia Thoracica. J. Morphol. 260:154–164, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.