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Larvae
Chaetopteridae larvae are the largest among the polychaete worms. The larvae will range in size from 0.4mm to 2.5mm (largest polychaete larvae reported having a maximum length of 12mm; the late stage of an unknown phyllodicid species). Chaetopteridae larvae are barrel-like in form with one to two ciliated bands at the midsection. They also have a large buccal funnel. These larvae are often long lived and effectively disseminate, although are constrained geographically to their appropriate ranges for successful adult growth. The most common form of larval developmental plan for polychaetes is the trochophore larvae. The trochophore will add segments sequentially from a posterior growth zone to produce a nectochaete larva. Chaetopterus represents a distinct deviation from this general design. At no point in larval growth stages does the metatrochophore take on the clearly segmented form of the typical nectochaete larva. The 15 segments of Chaetopterus are formed by subdivision of existing anlage.

Some relevant images of adult Chaetopteridae