Fig. 234. Cyphonautes (larva of Membranipora). (After Hatschek.)
m. mouth; a´. anus; f.g. foot gland; x. problematical body (probably a bud). The aboral apex is turned downwards.
The Echinoderm ring is oblique to the axis of the body, and, owing to the fact of its passing ventrally in front of the anus, must be called postoral.
The next point to be considered is that of the affinities of the other larval types to these two types.
The most important of all the larval types is the Trochosphere, and this type is undoubtedly more closely related to the Pilidium than to the Echinoderm larva. Mitraria amongst the Chætopods ([fig. 233]) has, indeed, nearly the form of a Pilidium, and mainly differs from a Pilidium in the possession of an anus and of provisional bristles; the same may be said of Cyphonautes ([fig. 234]) amongst the Polyzoa.
The existence of these two forms appears to shew that the præoral ciliated ring of the Trochosphere may very probably be derived directly from the circumoral ciliated ring of the Pilidium; the other ciliated rings or patches of the Trochosphere having a secondary origin.
The larva of the Brachiopoda ([fig. 220]), in spite of its peculiar characters, is, in all probability, more closely related to the Chætopod Trochosphere than to any other larval type. The most conspicuous point of agreement between them is, however, the possession in common of provisional setæ.
Echinoderm larvæ differ from the Trochosphere, not only in the points already alluded to, but in the character of the ciliated band. The Echinoderm band is longitudinal and postoral. As just stated, there is reason to think that the præoral band of the Trochosphere and the postoral band of the Echinoderm larva are both derived from a ciliated ring surrounding the oral disc of the prototype of these larvæ (vide [fig. 231]). In the case of the Echinodermata the anus must have been formed on the dorsal side of this ring, and in the case of the Trochosphere on the ventral side; and so the difference in position between the two rings was brought about. Another view with reference to these rings has been put forward by Gegenbaur and Lankester, to the effect that the præoral ring of the Trochosphere is derived from the breaking up of the single band of most Echinoderm larvæ into the two bands found in Bipinnaria (vide [fig. 223]) and the atrophy of the posterior band. There is no doubt a good deal to be said for this origin of the præoral ring, and it is strengthened by the case of Tornaria; but the view adopted above appears to me more probable.
Actinotrocha ([fig. 230]) undoubtedly resembles more closely Echinoderm larvæ than the Trochosphere. Its ciliated ring has Echinoderm characters, and the growth along the line of the ciliated ring of a series of arms is very similar to what takes place in many Echinoderms. It also agrees with the Echinoderm larvæ in the absence of sense organs on the præoral lobe.