Larval development and intermoult period of the hydrothermal vent barnacle Neoverruca sp.

Abstract

Larvae of the hydrothermal vent barnacle Neoverruca sp. were reared under laboratory conditions and larval development was observed. Under these conditions, the larvae were released from adults as first-stage nauplii, although the larvae of other deep-sea barnacles have generally been considered to be released at a later larval stage such as the cyprid stage. The larvae of Neoverruca sp. were lecithotrophic through six naupliar stages and the subsequent cyprid stage. The larval period of Neoverruca sp. was more than 96 days under the present rearing conditions, which is the longest yet reported for barnacles. Most cyprid larvae, however, exhibited abnormal morphology and no larvae settled successfully on the substrate. These observations suggest that such a long larval period might enable neoverrucid barnacles to disperse between vent fields.