Natural partial fertilization in fasciolaria

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Abstract
Of the eggs laid by Fasciolaria about 1 per cent develop into veligers, about 2 per cent more undergo a few cleavage divisions, and about 97 per cent do not divide at all. The 99 per cent that fail to develop normally are ‘swallowed’ by the veligers. This study concerns itself chiefly with the ova that do not divide. Notes on normal development and on the ova that undergo atypical cleavage are included.All of the ova are found to be typical when passed from the ovary. To each ovum one to several sperms become attached at the vegetal pole in the region of a mass of undifferentiated protoplasm—the ‘polar mass.’ A fertilization cone forms in each ovum and a fertilization membrane. In typical development a yolk lobe is formed, the sperm enters in the usual way, and fertilization is completed as in many other mollusks. In 97 per cent of the ova the yolk lobe is not formed and the sperm does not enter. In these cases the wall of the egg nucleus remains intact a long time. The nucleus itself and the ‘polar mass’ sink into the egg and meet at the center. Then the nuclear wall disappears and an atypical diaster is formed. However, cleavage is not begun and the chromosomes form vesicles that remain near the center of the ovum until it is ‘swallowed’ and digested by the veliger.