Reproduction and Brood Protection in the Caribbean Gastropods Coralliophila abbreviata and C. Caribaea
Wells FE and Lalli CM. 1977. Reproduction and Brood Protection in the Caribbean Gastropods Coralliophila abbreviata and C. Caribaea. Journal of Molluscan Studies. 43:79-87
Snails of the genus Coralliophila are small stenoglossans common in the shallow water coral reefs of the Caribbean Sea. The most abundant species, C. abbreviata (Lamarck), lives on at least eight species of coral and is most abundant on Montastraea annularis (Ellis and Solander) (Ott, 1971); C. caribaea Abbott is found on gorgonians, predominately Gorgonia sp. Both species are sedentary, with groups of up to 20 C. abbreviata living in small patches of dead coral for months and feeding on the adjacent live tissue (Ward, 1965; Ott & Lewis, 1972). Little is known of reproduction in the genus. Abbott (1958) figured an egg capsule of C. abbreviata and veliger shells of both species, but there was no accompanying description. Robertson (1970) believed the unattached egg capsules of coralliophilids to be unique among prosobranchs in being retained in the mantle cavity. We now provide details on several aspects of reproduction in Coralliophila abbreviata and C. caribaea, including sex ratios, descriptions of the egg capsules and larval stages, and fecundity.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Wells, Fred; Lalli, Carol
- Units
- SFCN
- Keywords
- Coral Reefs, Egg Capsules, Gorgonians, Snails, Veliger Shells