Induced metamorphosis in crustacean y-larvae might solve 100 year old puzzle
BMC Biology published an article on enigmatic “Y larvae” ,a crustacean larval type first identified more than 100 years ago from ocean samples.Despite several efforts the adult form of this larvae was never identified.
Work from Henrik Glenner et al have successfully and repeatedly induced metamorphosis of y-larvae into a novel, highly reduced juvenile stage by applying the crustacean molting hormone 20-HE.This new stage resembled a slug like organism ,unsegmented,lack limbs and lost all characters of arthropods ,but it is capable of vigorous peristaltic motions.This juvenile which is 300-400µ long is much simplified in morphology, covered by thin sheet of cuticle.The ultrathin cuticle and the decomposing compound eyes are the only morphological indications of its arthropod connection.
The microscopic moulted juvenile differs drastically from larvae that has prevented it observation for long.The molted juvenile has been named the ‘ypsigon’, which refering to Y larvae in Greek.the extreme morphological reduction seen in the new ypsigon stage is matched only by the early endoparasitic ‘vermigon’ stage recently discovered in certain parasitic barnacles, the Rhizocephala Kentrogonida in arthropods.The evolution of very similar, slug-shaped endoparasitic stages (vermigon, ypsigon) in two different lineages (Rhizocephala, Facetotecta) is therefore a stunning example of convergent evolution.
So far they are not able to identify the adult form of this Y larvae and the host it infects but it has taken closer to the century old puzzle.
Source:(For image and experimental details) click on the link below to read this article in detailand i am sure that it will be a great read.
Induced metamorphosis in crustacean y-larvae: Towards a solution to a 100-year-old riddle
Henrik Glenner , Jens T Hoeg , Mark J Grygier Yoshihisa Fujita
BMC Biology 2008, 6:21doi:10.1186/1741-7007-6-21
In the end of article they also provide some exciting video clips of this enigmatic organism.
Related Posts:
If you liked what you just read, you may want to subscribe to my
RSS FEED
Thanks for visiting!
Leave your response!