Early juvenile development of deep‐sea asteroids of the NE Atlantic Ocean, with notes on juvenile bathymetric distributions

摘要: The postmetamorphic ontogenesis of 11 deep-sea asteroid species is described. Juvenile bathymetric distributions are compared to adults. juvenile asteroids the NE Atlantic could be distinguished level from a very early stage development. In all species, except Porcellanaster ceruleus and Plinthaster dentatus, arms grow faster than body. growth nearly isometric. appearance epiproctal cone, change in form furrow apical spines, development cribriform organ adjacent madreporite sediment stomach indicate that likely undergo shift habitat diet during phase. probably predator on meiofauna small macrofauna stages life, changing burrowing lifestyle ingesting particles. sea stars showed wider their adult counterparts, suggesting events occurring life important for maintenance local population structure diversity deep Atlantic.