Morphology and life cycle ofOphryotrocha diadema, a new polychaete species from California

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Abstract
A new Ophryotrocha species is described from the harbour of Los Angeles. It has a maximum size of 4.6 mmand a maximum of 25 segments. The maxillary plates are of the Pvtype. The new species is a simultaneous hermaphrodite with segments 1 and 2 sterile, 3 and 4 male, and the remaining ones female. The chromosome number is 2n = 8. The larvae develop inside the transparent membrane of a fusiform egg case until the 4-setiger stage. They have no pygidial stylus. The reproductive rate is age dependent reaching a maximum during the fourth week of reproduction. There are two homozygotes and one heterozygote for a colour gene, all with different reproductive patterns.