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Article: Functional and Evolutionary Implications of Opposed Bands, Big Mouths, and Extensive Oral Ciliation in Larval Opheliids and Echiurids (Annelida).
- Article from:
- The Biological Bulletin
- Article date:
- August 1, 1999
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1999 Marine Biological Laboratory. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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BENJAMIN G. MINER [1]
ERIC SANFORD [2]
RICHARD R. STRATHMANN [3]
BRUNO PERNET [3]
RICHARD B. EMLET [4]
Abstract. Larvae of two annelids, the opheliid Armandia brevis and the echiurid Urechis caupo, captured small particles between opposed prototrochal and metatrochal ciliary bands and also captured large particles with wide ciliated mouths. The body volume of larval A. brevis increased more rapidly than the estimated maximum clearance rate as segments were added. Capture of larger particles by late-stage larvae may compensate for this potentially unfavorable allometry. The existence of larvae that use two feeding mechanisms ...