Posturas y estadio de eclosión del gastropodo muricidaeChorus giganteus(Lesson, 1829)

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Abstract
According to ecological developmental patterns in muricids summarized by Spight (1977), C. giganteus shows an intermediate Veliconcha hatching type. Egg size, hatching size and embryonic source of food are similar to those reported for Murex trapa; this last species also possesses a Veliconcha hatching type. Field observations reveal that C. giganteus inhabits shallow water sand bottoms as predicted by Spight for muricid species with a Veliconcha hatching type. The egg mass structure of C. giganteus and field observations suggest a communal spawning as previously observed in other muricids. Some possible adaptations of C. giganteus in relation to its existence in sand bottoms are assumed and discussed. They refer to its hatching type and the availability of solid substrate for the attachment of egg capsules. According to information available for Chilean muricids, the developmental pattern of C. giganteus shows closer evolutionary affinities with that of Nucella crassilabrum than with Concholepas concholepas.