Dwarfism in a sabellid polychaete, a study of an interstitial species.
The anatomy and behavior of a species of the sabellid polychaete subfamily Fabricinae, is described. Mature individuals are virtually microscopic and represent the extreme degree of dwarfism apparently possible for a sabellid. Eggs are matured and liberated unilaterally, one at a time, from a single thoracic segment. Dwarfism in this species is essentially a cessation of body growth at a juvenile stage, accompanied by precocious sexual maturity, as an adaptation to persistent occupation of an interstitial detrital habitat.
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D004392:Dwarfism / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006254:Hawaii; D008297:Male; D011077:Polychaeta / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D013045:Species Specificity