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New data concerning postembryonic development in Antarctic Ammothea species (Pycnogonida: Ammotheidae)

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Abstract

In this paper, new data on larval and postlarval stages after newly collected and museum-deposited material of six Ammothea species is provided and compared with previously known information. Different developmental stages attached to the ovigerous legs of adult males for each species were found: four stages [protonymphon (Ptn), postlarval instar 1 (PL-1), postlarval instar 2 (PL-2), and postlarval instar 3 (PL-3)] for A. carolinensis; just one (Ptn) for A. clausi and A. minor; three stages (Ptn, PL-1, PL-2) for A. bicorniculata and A. spinosa; and other three (Ptn, PL-2, PL-3) for A. longispina. In the present contribution, the external morphology of each larval and postlarval instar is described, illustrated, and discussed. The larval and postlarval development of Ammothea bicorniculata, A. carolinensis, A. longispina, and A. spinosa is characterized by (1) the eggs hatch as a protonymphon larva; (2) the larvae and subsequent postlarval stages have yolk reserves and a relatively large size (0.5–0.85 mm in length for the protonymphon); (3) the postlarvae remain on the ovigerous legs of males during several moults; (4) the spinning spine is absent; and (5) the development of walking legs is sequential. The protonymphon larva of A. clausi and A. minor is the only stage on the ovigerous legs of males, and this stage is characterized by: (1) there is no yolk reserve and it has a relatively small size (0.22–0.3 mm in length); (2) the spinning spine is present; and (3) all larval appendages have a relatively large size.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their gratitude to Miranda Lowe (British Museum of Natural History) for her extensive search for BANZARE specimens in the collections of the BMNH, especially for the loan of the male of Ammothea spinosa bearing the larvae here described and illustrated. Our thanks are also addressed to the officers and crew and many colleagues for their help on board during the Polarstern ANT XXIII/8 cruises. We take this opportunity to extend our thanks to the cruise leader and steering committee of the cruise, especially Julian Gutt and Enrique Isla (ANT XIII/8), all of whom kindly facilitated the work on board and allowed us to collaborate in this Antarctic programme. We thank the Editor and referees by their useful suggestions and criticisms that substantially improved this work. Support for this work was partially provided by POL2006-06399/CGL (Polarstern ANT XXIII/8 - CLIMANT). Mr. Tony Krupa is thanked for reviewing the English version.

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  1. Biodiversidad y Ecología de Invertebrados Marinos, Departamento Zoología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Avda. Reina Mercedes 6, 41012, Sevilla, Spain

    Esperanza Cano Sánchez & Pablo J. López-González

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  1. Esperanza Cano Sánchez
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  2. Pablo J. López-González
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Correspondence to Esperanza Cano Sánchez.

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Cano Sánchez, E., López-González, P.J. New data concerning postembryonic development in Antarctic Ammothea species (Pycnogonida: Ammotheidae). Polar Biol 36, 1175–1193 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-013-1338-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-013-1338-0

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