The larva of an undescribed Lineid species collected November 2011. Note lipid-like granules in juvenile posterior (lower left). Scale bar 100 µm.
Months collected: Oct–Nov
orphan larvae: Heteronemertean gen. sp. 4
Sequence Data: 16S, COI
This is another example of an orphan larva (a species which we find as larvae but have yet to find as adults). This larval type, which we nicknamed "piano-mover", is recognizable because of its broad, robust and strong episphere. An additional feature that we noticed upon close inspection is the presence of a cluster of lipid granules in the juvenile posterior (left and below middle). These larvae were very common in the fall of 2011 and were observed again in October 2014.
Larva collected from plankton in November 2011 (left and middle) and raised through metamorphosis where the juvenile nemertean has a short caudal cirrus (right). Scale bars 100 µm.