BIOTIC

BIOTIC Species Information for Anoplodactylus spp.

Researched by

Sean Lindsley-Leake

Data supplied by

MarLIN

Refereed by

This information is not refereed

Reproduction/Life History

Reproductive type

Gonochoristic

Developmental mechanism

Planktotrophic

Reproductive Season

Spring to Summer

Reproductive Location

As adult

Reproductive frequency

Annual episodic

Regeneration potential

Life span

Insufficient information

Age at reproductive maturity

Insufficient information

Generation time

Insufficient information

Fecundity

See additional information

Egg/propagule size

0.12mm

Fertilization type

Internal

Larvae/Juveniles
Larval/Juvenile dispersal potential	10-100m	Larval settlement period	Spring
Duration of larval stage	11-30 days

Reproduction Preferences Additional Information

Jarvis (1978) refers to Anoplodactylus as having similar eggs to Nymphon, but this is an inference drawn from other sources. Lebour (1946) mentions that the larval stage is ~12 days spent in a parasitic phase within Lobelia hydroids. The larval pycnogonids are also seen to be carried by the medusae of Obelia (Lebour, 1916) which may represent an important means of dispersal. Eggs are initially carried by female before being transferred to male. Fertilisation is thought to take place on the transferal of mature eggs to the male, happens in deeper waters during winter migration. It is possible for two broods per year with early brood maturing in late summer. The male carrys more than one brood, 30-40 eggs are produced by a female, and 300-400 carried by male.

Reproduction References

Jarvis & King, 1978, Lebour, 1946, Lebour, 1916,