Modes of larval development in Early Tertiary neogastropods

Abstract

A survey was undertaken of the developmental types of the neogastropod families Volutidae, Fasciolariidae, Nassariidae, Mitridae, Buccinidae and Olividae in the Palaeocene and Eocene series of the Gulf of Mexico. Although the families were dominated by planktotrophic development in the Paleocene, most show a general increase in numbers of species with nonplanktotrophic development through the Eocene. Present day environmental correlations with larval development do not adequately explain the observed shift in developmental types in the Early Tertiary. It is proposed that higher speciation rates for nonplanktotrophs and a unidirectional trend in developmental change may account for the progressive increase of nonplanktotrophic development.