Cnidom variation through distinct developmental stages in the sea anemone Aulactinia marplatensis (Zamponi, 1977) (Cnidaria: Actiniaria)

GARESE, A.; GONZÁLEZ-MUÑOZ, R. E.; ACUÑA, F. H.

ANAIS DA ACADEMIA BRASILEIRA DE CIENCIAS.

ACAD BRASILEIRA DE CIENCIAS

Lugar: Rio de Janeiro; Año: 2019 vol. 91 p. 1 - 8

0001-3765

The cnidae are the exclusive diagnostic structures ofphylum Cnidaria. The inventory of all cnidae types of a particular species iscalled the cnidom. The study of cnidae has been widely addressed in all classesof cnidarians. Particularly in the order Actiniaria (sea anemones), the studyof the composition, size and distribution of cnidae is essential to theidentification and description of species. In the present study, we examine thecnidom of the sea anemone Aulactiniamarplatensis in three different stages of development throughout its life cycle.We found that the composition and abundance patterns are very similar between theadult and juvenile stages, although significant differences in the sizecapsules were found between both stages and in all cnidae types observed, beingbigger those from the adult forms. The planula larvae stage presents a lessdiverse cnidom in comparison to the juvenile and adult stages; however, it presentan exclusive cnidae type (the mesobasic p-mastigophore)which is the biggest in size of all the cnidae types observed in the species.These results highlight the importance of of taking in account the developmentstage when using cnidae as a diagnostic character, and the particular relevanceof the study of the cnidom in larval stages.