Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India

First report of internal brooding and larval development of Actiniarian sea anemone (Anthopleura handi) from India

Volume 61 Issue 1

Smitanjali Choudhury and C. Raghunathan

10.6024/jmbai.2019.61.1.2018-13

Abstract

Anthopleura handi, a widely distributed, actiniarian sea anemone, was raised for the first time from India under laboratory conditions and observed three consecutive internal brooding in a year at room temperature. At first brooding, 36 individuals of planulae were expelled; while during the second and third broodings the number of planulae released were 22 and 45 respectively. The survival rate of planulae showed high (80%) at third brooding whereas a rapid decrease in percentage of survival occurred during first brooding (27.77%) due to the infection with protozoans and parasitic flatworms. The cultured planulae successfully maintained and monitored for 60 days. 

Keywords

Sea anemone, internal brooding, larval development, India

Date : 30-05-2019