Reproduction of Dodecaceria caulleryi (Polychaeta: Cirratulidae)

Abstract

INTRODUCTIONDodecaceria caulleryi breeds asexually by fragmentation and regeneration (schizogenesis), and sexually as an epitoke. Fragmentation is initiated in September-November in worms generally more than 40 segments long with the autotomy of the anterior 11–34 segments. Some 14–18 isolated segments are then autotomized in succession from the front of the remainder of the worm, leaving a residual 7–19 posterior segments. The anterior, individual segmental, and posterior fragments produced in this way all begin regenerating; anterior regeneration of the posterior fragment is limited to 14 or fewer segments but posterior regeneration and growth of all fragments is unlimited though slow. When the segmental fragment has regenerated about 7 new anterior and posterior segments, these may be autotomized as secondary individuals and the original segment regenerates again. The anterior regenerate is more commonly shed than the posterior regenerate and not all segmental individuals engage in secondary fragmentation.