The larva of Tubulanus sexlineatus collected 01 April 2015. Note anterior transverse line that is pale and connects to run longitudinally for the larval body length (middle and right). A ripe female was also collected in April 2015 and spawned pink oocytes (inset, left). Scale 100 µm.
Tubulanus sexlineatus
Sequence data: 16S, COI
Observed in Coos Bay: Mar-Apr
These larvae are like other Tubulanus larvae in that they are eyeless and have relatively thick epidermis. However, the photographed T. sexlineatus larva did not possess the thick lateral cirri common in other Tubulanus larvae. Instead, this larva had a conspicuous and pale transverse anterior line that connected ventrally and ran longitudinally for the length of the body (above middle and right). Ripe females spawn pale pink oocytes (inset, above left) that are connected by a loose jelly such that they remain near, and almost surround the body of the female.
