Smallest individuals (3-4 chaetigers) have neither appendages nor distinctive morphology, as shown above left. At around 400µm and 5-6 chaetigers they develop a pair of smooth gills behind the prostomium; the adults will ultimately have four pairs, but the remaining three pairs appear much later in development. Since the smallest larvae are so featureless, it is possible that there may be more than one species represented.
Smallest individuals (3-4 chaetigers) have neither appendages nor distinctive morphology, as shown above left. At around 400µm and 5-6 chaetigers they develop a pair of smooth gills behind the prostomium; the adults will ultimately have four pairs, but the remaining three pairs appear much later in development. Since the smallest larvae are so featureless, it is possible that there may be more than one species represented.
