{"id":5801,"date":"2012-12-25T07:52:36","date_gmt":"2012-12-25T06:52:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/opistobranquis.info\/reproducci%c3%b3reproducci%c3%b3nreproduction"},"modified":"2019-05-21T05:50:40","modified_gmt":"2019-05-21T03:50:40","slug":"reproduccio","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/opistobranquis.info\/en\/introduccio\/reproduccio\/","title":{"rendered":"Reproduction"},"content":{"rendered":"

Opisthobranchs are simultaneous hermaphrodites, meaning that they are both male and female at the same time, so\u00a0mating is usually reciprocal, and both individuals exchange genetic material and lay eggs.<\/p>\n

\"PolyceraPolycera quadrilineata<\/em> (Atlantic) in copula<\/h5>\n

As a living strategy, hermaphroditism has the advantage that any mature individual of a species is a potential partner of any other individual of the same species, something that increases the chances of fertilization, as each individual\u00a0may (and does)\u00a0lay eggs. Self-fertilization is possible in many species, but unusual because of the impoverishment of the genetic material involved.<\/p>\n

The reproductive organs are located\u00a0at\u00a0the right side of the body\u00a0so coupled individuals must face opposite directions with their right sides together.<\/p>\n

Opisthobranchs usually lay their eggs on the animal they prey on, or\u00a0over any prominent object nearby. As divers know, often happens that the only indicator that opisthobranchs are present in a given place is the presence of\u00a0their eggmasses, so\u00a0only after a\u00a0thorough search in the surroundings the adult animals are found. The size, shape and color of the opisthobranchs’ spawn has a great variation from one species to another, so, it is an aid in the identification and classification of species.<\/p>\n

\"DorisDoris verrucosa<\/em> with spawn<\/h5>\n

Opisthobranchs development is often incomplete; there is a larval stage called “veliger”. The “veliger” hatches and becomes part of the plankton. Often the larvae will settle and transform into their adult form\u00a0ONLY in the presence of the species they prey on. In some species the development is completed within the egg,\u00a0so the “veliger” is\u00a0never released. This is known as direct development<\/em> and,\u00a0as a result,\u00a0minute individuals, identical to the adults, emerge from every egg.<\/p>\n

In species with planktonic dispersion<\/em> eggs are small and take a short time to hatch. However, in species with direct development<\/em>, egg size tends to be large, as it is essential that the egg contains enough food to feed the embryo through the juvenile stage.<\/p>\n

Cite this article as: <\/strong><\/p>

Ballesteros, M., Madrenas, E. & Pontes, M.<\/b> (2025) \"Reproduction\"<\/em> in OPK-Opistobranquis<\/em>. Published: 25\/12\/2012. Accessed: 27\/07\/2026. Available at (https:\/\/opistobranquis.info\/en\/?p=5801<\/a>)<\/p>

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<\/p><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Opisthobranchs are simultaneous hermaphrodites, meaning that they are both male and female at the same time, so\u00a0mating is usually reciprocal, and both individuals exchange genetic material and lay eggs. Polycera quadrilineata (Atlantic) in copula As a living strategy, hermaphroditism has the advantage that any mature individual of a species is a potential partner of any other individual of the same species, something that increases the chances of fertilization, as each\u2026<\/p>\n

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