Early development of the deep-sea ampharetid (Polychaeta : Ampharetidae) Decemunciger apalea Zottoli

Early development of the opportunistic, deep-sea ampharetid polychaete Dece munciger apalea Zottoli is described from specimens removed from wood panel s placed on the deep-sea floor by Turner (1973). Larvae with less than 8 se tigers were not found. Larval spatulate notosetae and neuropodial uncini on segments 3-6 formed during early development are eventually lost by the 14 -setiger stage making segment 7 the first uncinigerous thoracic segment in juveniles and adults. Early development of this species is generally simila r to that described for other shallow and deep-sea ampharetids.