Abstract

The egg masses and hatched veliger larvae of three mesogastropod species from La Herradura Bay, Coquimbo, Chile are described, including: Turritella cingulata Sowerby, 1833, Sinum cymba (Menke, 1828), and Priene scabrum (King, 1832). The morphology of the egg masses was similar to the descriptions given for other members of these families. The egg mass of Turritella cingulata consisted of a gelatinous matrix mixed with sand, weighing an average of 2.04 g. Egg capsules were embedded in the matrix; they were spherical, translucent, and contained one to 15 embryos. Development lasted 7-8 days at 13.5-14.0°C. The hatched veligers measured 141 ?m in length. The egg mass of Sinum cymba was ribbonlike with two sand layers in between which were located spherical, transparent egg capsules. Each capsule contained one embryo. Hatching larvae measured 194 ?m in length. Priene scabrum laid on average 129 capsules in each egg mass. The capsules were vasiform in shape, 3.6 × 6.0 mm in length, and each contained an average of 1466 embryos. The intracapsular period lasted 38 days at 14 ± 0.4°C, and hatched larvae measured 263 ?m in length. All three species had indirect development.