Figure 2.

Schematic representation of schizogamy in syllids. (A) Adult individual of a schizogamous species. Schizogamy can occur by scissiparity or gemmiparity. (B) Scissiparous individual during stolonization, based on Syllis spp. (Franke, 1999). (C) Gemmiparous individual during sequential gemmiparity based on Myrianida pachycera (Okada, 1933b). When the stolons are completely developed, they are detached for spawning. The stock animal regenerates the posterior body after the detachment of stolons. (D) Individual during posterior regeneration. (E) Male and female stolons perform spawning for exchange of gametes; scheme based on stolons of Syllis spp. (F) After spawning, stolons die. (G) Larval development in non‐brooding species; larvae disperse in ocean. (H) Alternatively, autolytine female stolons live during external brooding and development of the embryos; mature female carries an egg sack until the release of juveniles; ventral brooding; based on Myrianida pachycera (Okada, 1933b). (I) Growth of juveniles until mature stage to start a new stolonization process. pr, prostomium; py, pygidium; st, stolon