Aspects of Postembryonic Development in Campyloderidae (Kinorhyncha)
Kinorhyncha is a group of some 360 species thriving the marine bottoms from intertidal to hadal depths. Specimens feed on bacteria, detritus, and diatoms and do not exceed 1.1 mm in length. The life cycle of Kinorhyncha includes several juvenile and in some species at least two morphologically slightly different adult stages. Only aspects of the biology, development, biogeography, and taxonomy are understood currently, so every new information is welcome. We studied juvenile stages of two species of Kinorhyncha from 420‒5,100 m depth in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Ocean. We unveiled the principal developmental series of juvenile stages of Campyloderes cf. vanhoeffeni and clarified distinguishing characters between juvenile and female or more maturated male stages. Two female life history stages differing in their spine pattern could be identified. This information will assist in future studies to avoid misidentification of specimens of the two species studied.
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