Identified hoplonemertean larvae
Carcinonemertes errans
The larvae of Gurjanovella littoralis (right) are not common, have to eyes and roll into spherical balls.
Carcinonemertes errans, a hoplonemertean egg predator of Dungeness crab, have larvae (left) that are orange in color and common in plankton samples.
Gurjanovella littoralis
Emplectonema sp. 1
The larvae of the local species, Emplectonema sp. 1 (above) are distinct due to their green body color.
Malacobdella siliqua is a local hoplonemertean that is commensal within the mantle cavity of the razor clam, Siliqua patula. The larva (right) are small and have a anterior mid-ventral groove.
Malacobdella siliqua
Nipponnemertes bimaculata
The larvae of Nipponnemertes bimaculata were reared from ripe adults that washed ashore and were spawning in May 2013. The larvae at typical hoplonemertean larvae (left), with conspicuous cerebral ganglia and paired sub-epidermal eyes.
Ototyphlonemertes sp. 1
The larvae of Ototyphlonemertes sp. 1 are easy to recognize by the presence of statocysts and two small eyes.
Paranemertes californica
The larvae of Paranemertes californica (above) have several pairs of eyes and are often quite large and can readily evert their proboscis. Evidence suggests that these hoplonemertean larvae are feeding in the plankton.
Poseidonemertes collaris
The larvae of Poseidonemertes collaris (left) resemble G. littoralis, however the former species has reddish pigment anteriorly which is not seen in the larvae of the latter species.
Paranemertes peregrina
Zygonemertes sp. 1
The larvae of Paranemertes peregrina (above left) are very similar to Zygonemertes sp. 1 (above right). However, their embryos are commonly seen in the plankton and provide characters for easy identification.
Tetrastemma bilineatum
Tetrastemma bilineatum is a local species that broods embryos in a parchment tube surrounding their body. Free-swimming hoplonemertean larvae (above) hatch and have hair-like anterior projections.
