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1 April 2012 Cypris Larvae (Cirripedia: Balanomorpha) Display Auto-Fluorescence in Nearly Species-Specific Patterns
Kyoko Kamiya, Keiji Yamashita, Toshiharu Yanagawa, Toyoki Kawabata, Kenji Watanabe
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Abstract

The identification of balanomorph larvae plays an important role in ecological study and for protection against biofouling. However, it is difficult to identify species of cyprids (settling larvae) of balanomorph barnacles, as they show remarkably similar morphology. Some authors have suggested distinguishing cyprids of different species by carapace length, pigmentation, and fine carapace detail. However, such criteria are only applicable to a narrow range of balanomorph species. Recently, we were have serendipitously found species-specific distribution of fluorescent substances in cultured cyprids obtained from adult balanomorph barnacles, collected near the coast of Japan. Fluorescent patterns (FPs) of cyprids from 11 species were classified into five major groups. Cyprids specimens collected from the field were estimated, based on the FPs and other morphological characteristics (pigmentation and carapace length), after which their species were identified using the following two criteria: the morphology of adults derived from the field cyprids that adhered to a culture dish, and cyprid 12S rRNA gene sequence. The results of species estimation by FPs largely corresponded to the correct species identification. Other FP groups were found in the field cyprids. This study of FPs should be helpful for identification of cyprid species.

Kyoko Kamiya, Keiji Yamashita, Toshiharu Yanagawa, Toyoki Kawabata, and Kenji Watanabe "Cypris Larvae (Cirripedia: Balanomorpha) Display Auto-Fluorescence in Nearly Species-Specific Patterns," Zoological Science 29(4), 247-253, (1 April 2012). https://doi.org/10.2108/zsj.29.247
Received: 12 October 2011; Accepted: 1 December 2011; Published: 1 April 2012
KEYWORDS
12S rRNA gene
auto-fluorescent pattern
balanomorph barnacle
culture of cyprids
cyprid
species identification
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