Spawn and early development of two sympatric species of the genus Doriopsilla (Opisthobranchia: Nudibranchia) with contrasting development strategies

WA Museum Records and Supplements | Updated 8 years ago

ABSTRACT – Doriopsilla areolata and D. pelseneeri are two very similar species that co-exist in the same habitat but contrast in their reproductive modes. The animals were collected in two different locations of Portugal and Spain, and were kept in the lab for reproduction and subsequent observation of the early development. The egg masses of both species consist of gelatinous flat ribbons coiled regularly. D. areolata pre-larval development was about 11-12 days, hatching a planktotrophic larva. In the case of D. pelseneeri, the development was direct with a juvenile hatching from the egg after 26-27 days. The different type of development could explain the wide geographic dispersion of D. areolata in comparison with the restricted distribution of D. pelseneeri.