Abstract
Echinoids are model organisms for studies on fertilization and early ontogeny because gamete release can be easily induced, and their external development is rapid and synchronous. However, embryological research has largely focused on regular echinoids, leaving significant gaps in the understanding of the ontogenetic development of irregular species. Our study aimed to describe the embryonic and early larval development of Encope michelini and to document key morphogenetic events during its ontogeny. Ten adult specimens of E. michelini were collected in November 2023 from La Ahumadera, Cispatá Bay, Colombia, and transported to the Molecular Biology Laboratory at the University of Córdoba. After a 12-hour acclimation period, spawning was induced using a potassium chloride (KCl) solution. The eggs are isolecithal, with an average diameter of 188.37 ± 21.48 μm. Each cleavage cycle lasted approximately 26 minutes, leading to blastula formation at 04:10 HPF and hatching at 06:30 HPF. Gastrulation began at 08:00 HPF, followed by the prism stage at 23:30 HPF. After 52:00 HPF, larvae reached the two-armed echinopluteus stage. Our study constitutes the first detailed embryonic description of an echinoid from the Colombian Caribbean. The developmental features of E. michelini suggest that this species may serve as a promising model for future studies evaluating the effects of climate change and chemical pollutants on marine invertebrate development.
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