Sea biscuit life cycle

This video shows the life cycle of Clypeaster subdepressus, an irregular echinoderm belonging to the Clypeasteroida (sand dollars and sea biscuits). Footage depicts all developmental stages: adults releasing gametes (eggs and sperm), fertilization of the egg, first embryonic cell divisions, gastrulation sequence, swimming blastulae and gastrulae, swimming pluteus larvae with 2/4/6/8 arms, developing juvenile rudiment inside larvae, settlement behavior of competent plutei, and complete metamorphosis into a juvenile.

For the complete description and further details please consult the pulished article in the link below.