Evolution of larval form in ophiuroids: insights from the metamorphic phenotype of Ophiothrix (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea)

SUMMARY Comparison of development through metamorphosis in Ophiothrix species provided insights into the evolutionary relationships between Type I (ophiopluteus only) and Type II (ophiopluteus and vitellaria) patterns of development in the Ophiuroidea. As typical of Type I developers, the six inner larval arms in Ophiothrix spongicola were fully resorbed at metamorphosis and no remnants of ciliated epithelia were retained. The postero‐lateral arms function as locomotory organs for the developing juvenile and were discarded at settlement. In contrast, in O. ciliaris the epithelia of the inner arms were transformed into ciliated ridges, similar to those seen in vitellariae and the postero‐lateral arms were resorbed rather than being discarded. Larval arm resorption in O. ciliaris is similar to that in Type II developers. The metamorphic phenotype of O. ciliaris provides a link between Type I and II development. The presence of two types of metamorphosis in congeneric ophiuroids and the variable metamorphic phenotype of O. ciliaris was unexpected. It appears that closely related ophiuroids and individual species may have the capacity to metamorphose using either Type I or Type II pathways. Although the phylogenetic distribution of metamorphic phenotypes indicates that Type II development may be the ancestral state, comparative morphology suggests that a developmental dichotomy based on larval arm resorption may not be appropriate for the Ophiuroidea. Until metamorphosis is characterized for more taxa, the ancestral developmental mode for the Ophiuroidea will remain a matter of conjecture.