Saturday, May 17, 2014

S. purpuratus -- Metamorphosed!

Our batch of S. purpuratus, spawned on 4.1.14, have finally begun metamorphosing! During the pluteus stage, the larvae forms a hydrocoel, followed by both the axocoel and somatocoel, which soon merge to form the rudiment, the basis of the adult body plan. The rudiment continues to develop throughout the larval stage until metamorphosis, whereby the rudiment emerges from the sides of the larval body as a juvenile. 

Pluteus with rudiment, circled in red. Photo taken 5/6/14.

Juvenile after metamorphosis. Photo taken 5/13/14.

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