Egg capsules and larval development of Nassarius burchardi (Philippi, 1849) and Nassarius jonasii Dunker, 1846 and comparisons with other Nassariidae (Caenogastropoda)

Abstract

Adult Nassarius burchardi and N. jonasii were maintained in a laboratory, allowed to spawn and their early life stages described. N. burchardi veligers hatched from bulliform, oval capsules and N. jonasii veligers hatched from circular capsules with axial ridges. The capsules are compared with those described for other Nassariidae. All eggs developed within the capsules and hatching occurred within six to eight days in the laboratory. The planktotrophic veligers developed in four to five weeks before settling and metamorphosing. The veligers of both species were of comparable size and morphology and spent similar times developing as other Nassarius species from temperate waters. The two species differ in protoconch microsculpture.

Keywords:

• Buccinoidea
• larvae
• Neogastropoda
• spawn
• veliger

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Dr Winston Ponder, Ian Loch, Dr Peter Middelfart and Sue Lindsay from the Australian Museum for sharing expertise, use of equipment and technical guidance in SEM imagery. We would also like to thank the reviewers of this manuscript, Dr Peter Middelfart and Dr Rachel Przeslawski for their time and helpful comments.