The Larval Stages of Notomastus latericeus Sars

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Abstract
1. Artificial fertilisations of Notomastus latericeus Sars were made and the larvæ reared.2. The two-day old trochosphere is provided with a large central mass of yolk. It has a broad prototroch, a telotroch, a neurotroch and an apical tuft. It swims rapidly.3. Development consists in the appearance of trunk segments; The most anterior of these is the achætous peristomium. Those following acquire neuro- and notopodial chætæ.4. At an age of about ten days the cilia are gradually lost. The larva then has about five chætigerous segments, the first three bearing bristles, the last two hooded hooks.5. The young worms lived for some twelve days after metamorphosis and by that time had seven clætigerous segments. Only a little of the yolk still remained. The worms possessed a protrusible introvert and were feeding on diatoms.6. The larva apart from its strong prototroch and rapidity of swimming does not exhibit any special structural adaptations to pelagic life, such as are found in some other Polychæte larvæ. In comparison with Capitella it has fewer segments when it metamorphoses.

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