The Eggs and Larvae of the British Prosobranchs with Special Reference to those Living in the Plankton

Abstract

Molluscs are very important members of our marine fauna, and, since many of them are planktonic in their early stages, they contribute largely to the number of organisms available as food for plankton-eating animals. The present work includes the prosobranchs only, particularlythose from Plymouth which have been specially studied during the last few years. Several papers have already been published dealing with the Plymouth species (Lebour, 1931–6), and these are referred to in due course. The present paper brings together the above work and that of others and summarizes our knowledge of the larval prosobranchs of Britain, with a description of the eggs. Naturally there are still many gaps, but it is hoped that these may be filled in time. A preliminary paper on the subject has already appeared (Lebour, 1933f). Closely related foreign species are referred to for comparison with our British forms. Original notes on certain species and information on the echinospira larva ofCapulus ungaricusare given here for the first time. Figures of typical eggs and larvae are given.