LARVAL AND EARLY JUVENILE DEVELOPMENT OF THE VOLCANO KEYHOLE LIMPET, FISSURELLA VOLCANO

Abstract

Larval and juvenile development were studied in the volcano keyhole limpet Fissurella volcano over 77 days under laboratory conditions at temperatures ranging from 18°C to 20°C. Larvae obtained by spontaneous spawning were fed a mixture of the microalgae Nannochloropsis oculata and Phaeodactylum tricornutum. Elapsed time from fertilization to veliger larva was 22.5 h. Veliger release occurred on day 3. Formation of the fissure giving rise to the keyhole began after day 16. On days 28 through 33, the keyhole reached its final position and juveniles exhibited adult-like morphological characteristics.