Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-p9bg8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T12:44:55.361Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Abnormal forms in the brittle-star Amphipholis squamata: a field study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 September 2002

Samuel Dupont  and
Jérôme Mallefet
Samuel Dupont
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Université Catholique de Louvain, Bâtiment Carnoy, 5 Place Croix du Sud, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium Biodiversity Research Centre, Université Catholique de Louvain, Bâtiment Carnoy, 5 Place Croix du Sud, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
Jérôme Mallefet
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Université Catholique de Louvain, Bâtiment Carnoy, 5 Place Croix du Sud, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium Biodiversity Research Centre, Université Catholique de Louvain, Bâtiment Carnoy, 5 Place Croix du Sud, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Deviation from pentamerism is a rare phenomenon in 5-armed echinoderm species. Qualitative and quantitative data from field observations of 14 populations around the world were used for a biogeographical study of this phenomenon. Four abnormal forms presenting deviation from the classical pentamerism of echinoderms were observed within the brittle-star species Amphipholis squamata (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea). Although these forms were rare in global populations (0·29%), they can reach important frequencies in some locations. Our results suggest that habitat structure has an influence on the occurence of abnormal forms. Moreover, deviations from pentamerism are not a heritable character but are a consequence of environmental perturbations on the metamorphosis of larvae and/or abnormal regeneration of arms.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 82 , Issue 3 , June 2002 , pp. 491 - 493
Copyright
2002 Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)