The larval nephridia of the brackish-water polychaete, Nereis diversicolor

The larval nephridia of the brackish-water polychaete Nereis diversicolor are described for the first time, and have been studied to determine if their times of development and structural characteristics are consistent with a role in the osmotic regulation of the larva. As shown in serial paraffin sections and by interference-contrast optics, the nephridia of the three-setiger larva consist of a single pair of very large metanephridia, arising in the 3rd larval setiger, but with their elongated terminal ducts and coiled ciliated tubules pushed forward into the 2nd setiger; their open metanephrostomes and anterior anchoring filaments lie dorsal to the 2nd set of setae. In contrast, the definitive or juvenile metanephridia, arising in the 4th and subsequently formed setigerous segments, have short terminal ducts and coiled ciliated tubules confined to the segments on which their external nephropores open; their nephrostomes are ventrally located and open into the rear of the next anterior segment. These findings are in contrast to the claims of Edouard Meyer (1887), who described two pairs of closed protonephridia in the 2nd and 3rd larval setigers of Perinereis cultrifera. Although it is not excluded that the single larval pair of metanephridia of N. diversicolor may arise as protonephridia, Meyer's claim of two pairs of larval protonephridia was an observational error. The larval nephridia of the marine Platynereis dumerilii resemble in form, but are considerably smaller than, those of N. diversicolor. It is concluded that the hypertrophied pair of larval metanephridia of N. diversicolor is an evolutionary adaptation to existence in habitats of low and unpredictably varying salinity. Their development occurs irrespective of the prevailing salinity; hence, it must be genetically determined.