Abstract
Spawning was induced between April and July, 1972, in the West Indian ophiuroid Ophiolepis elegans (Lütken) by a combined temperature and light-shock method. The large (0.25 mm) yolky eggs develop into vitellaria larvae with 4 ciliated bands. The larvae complete metamorphosis within 3 days. Up to 75% of the ophiuroid and echinoid species found in the euryhaline estuary at Cedar Key, Florida (USA), may have some developmental modification which reduces larval exposure to the pelagic environment. Such a high percentage of species with modified development in a subtropical area suggests a selective advantage to these species in areas of salinity variability. Egg counts of two species with vitellaria larvae indicate that egg numbers vary with disk size and are roughly intermediate to counts for species with direct or planktotrophic development.
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Communicated by J. Bunt, Miami
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Stancyk, S.E. Development of Ophiolepis elegans (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) and its implications in the estuarine environment. Marine Biology 21, 7–12 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00351186
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00351186