Bipinnaria

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

A bipinnaria is the first stage in the

cilia
. Starfish that brood their young generally lack a bipinnaria stage, with the eggs developing directly into miniature adults

Bipinnaria larva

The bipinnaria is free-living, swimming as part of the zooplankton. When it initially forms, the entire body is covered by cilia, but as it grows, these become confined to a narrow band forming a number of loops over the body surface. A pair of short, stubby arms soon develop on the body, with the ciliated bands extending into them.

In addition to propelling the larva through the water, the cilia also catch suspended food particles, and deliver them to the mouth (more correctly called a stomodeum).

Eventually, three additional arms develop at the front end of the larva; at this point it becomes a brachiolaria. In some species, including the common starfish Asterias, the bipinnaria develops directly into an adult.

It is very similar in appearance to the

Hemichordata, reflecting the descent of the Ambulacraria
from a common ancestor.

References

Barnes, Robert D. (1982). Invertebrate Zoology. Philadelphia, PA:

.