Origin and diversity of marine larvae

    1 Citation (Scopus)

    Abstract

    The origin of larvae has been much discussed, but the most plausible theory is the “terminal addition theory,” which proposes that the larvae originated when a benthic stage was added to the ancestral holoplanktonic life cycle, with the planktonic stage retained as the larva. Marine larvae show an astonishing morphological and ecological variation. Planktotrophic larvae are found in many smaller or larger lineages, and characteristic types—such as the trochophore of many annelids and molluscs, the cyphonautes of some bryozoans, the actinotrocha of most phoronids, the pluteus larvae of most echinoderms, and the tornaria of some enteropneusts—are familiar members of the plankton. These larvae show different types of ciliary filter feeding: trochophores have downstream-collecting, cyphonautes and actinotrocha have ciliary-sieving, and pluteus and actiunotrocha have upstream-collecting feeding. Crustacean larvae show a variety of feeding mechanisms. Lecithotrophic larvae are found in all phyla. A panorama of marine larvae is presented.

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationEvolutionary Ecology of Marine Invertbrate Larvae
    EditorsJ. Carrier Tyler, Adam M. Reitzel, Andreas Heyland
    Number of pages13
    Place of PublicationOxford
    PublisherOxford University Press
    Publication date1 Jan 2018
    Chapter1
    ISBN (Print)9780198786962
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2018

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