RETROGRESSIVE METAMORPHOSIS IN HERDMANIA

The type of metamorphosis, where highly advanced larval form ends in a lowly organised
adult is called retrogressive metamorphosis. This is observed in the life history of
Urochordate animals. The phenomenon is explained with reference to Herdmania.

ORGANISATION OF HERDMANIA TADPOLE LARVA:

Herdmania is a hermaphrodite animal. The fertilised eggs undergo holoblastic unequal

clevage and it develops into blastula. It shows upper micromeres and lower macromeres. By
invagination of the macromeres, gastrulation takes place and gastrula is formed. This gastrula
develops into a tailed larva called Ascidian Tadpole larva.

The larva is 3 about in length. It has short oval body and a long tail.

This larva shows all the chordate features.

1) The body is covered by thin test.

2) The tail is long and shows a tail fin or caudal fin.

3) The tail is supported by notochord. Hence it comes under urochordata.

4) On the dorsal side above the notochord hollow nerve cord is present. This nerve cord is
enlarged at the anterior end as a cerebral vesicle. In the cerebral vesicle pigmented eye spot is
present. Statocyst is also present. They work as sense organs.

5) On either side of the notochord in the tail region muscles are present which are helpful in
the locomotion.
6) On the trunk region digestive system is present. It shows large pharynx with few gills slits.
They open into atrium. On the mid ventral floor of the pharynx an endostyle is present.

7) Atrium opens out through atriopore.

8) Below the pharynx on the ventral side a muscular heart is present.

9) On the anterior end of the trunk three adhesive papillae are present These are very much
useful to attach the larva to the substratum

This Herdmania tadpole larva shows all chordate characters. This larvae ‘undergoes
retrogressive’ metamorphosis and develops into adult Herdmania.

Changes during Metamorphosis:

Fixation of the larva: The larva swims for some time without feeding. It is fixed to a sub-
stratum with the help of the adhesive papillae. It stands erect with the tail upwards. Then it
undergoes retrogressive metamorphosis.

1.Notochord, nerve cord muscles and tail will be reduced. All the above structures will help
the larva to swim freely in the water. But they are not useful to the sedentary adult

2.. The alimentary canal becomes complicated. The pharynx en larges in size. The number of
gill slits will increase by divisions. The stomach and intestine will grow.

3. The nervous system is reduced and the anterior part of nervous system is developed into a
small neural ganglion attached to it neural gland is present.

4. The atrial cavity enlarges into a sac like structure.

5. The eyespot and statocyst will completely disappear.

6. Gonads develop from mesencyme.

When these changes are taking place, the region between the adhesive papillae and mouth
grows very rapidly. At the same time the growth of the dorsal region is stopped. Because of
this, the body rotates through 1800 angle and mouth is brought to the top.

ASSIGNMENT TOPICS:

1. Retrogressive changes in the life history of Urochordates

QUESTION BANK:

1. Explain the process of retrogressive metamorphosis in Herdmania.

SEMINAR TOPICS:

1. Development of Adult Hedmania

QUIZ QUESTIONS:

1. The type of cleavage in Urochordates is –

a. Holoblastic b. Meroblastic c. Discoidal d. Superficial
2. In Urochordates, gastrulation takes place by -
a. Involution b. Invagination c. Delamination d.Epiboly
3. In herdmanian tadpole, tail is supported by -
a. Muscles b. Notochord c. Both d. None
4. The sensory organs of Hedmanian tadpole include --
a. Statocyst b. eye spot c. Both d. None
5. In ascidian tadpole, gonads develop from ----
a. ectoderm b. endoderm c. mesoderm d. none
6. In Herdmania, adhesive papillae are observed in — stage
a. Adult only b. Larva only c. Both d. None
7. In herdmania, metamorphosis is
a. Progressive a. Retrogressive c. None d. can’t be said
8. Angle of rotation during the metamorphosis of Herdmanian tadpole is –
a. 900 b. 1800 c. 450 d. 1350
9. All these parts undergo retrogression in the life cycle of Herdmania, except -
a. Cerebral vesicle b. Notochord c. Gills d. Muscles
10. Active tadpole of herdmania attaches itself to the substratum by –
a. Mucus b. Adhesive papillae c. Resins d. Tail

ANSWERS FOR QUIZ QUESTIONS:

1. A 2. B 3. C 4. C 5. C 6. B 7. B 8. B 9. C 10. B

REFERENCES:

1. Vertebrates – by R.L.Kotpal, Rastogi Publications, Meerut. 8/e, 2011

2. Zoology ( Chordates) – Andhra Pradesh Telugu Academy, 1/e, 2011
3. A Manual of Zoology (Part 2- Vertebrates) – by Ekambaranath Ayer, 3/e, 1973.
WEB RESOURCES:

1. http://www.freebookcentre.net/Biology/Zoology-Books.html
2. https://archive.org/details/InvertebrateZoology
3. http://www.mcz.harvard.edu/Departments/InvertZoo/
4. https://www.slideshare.net/
5. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/onlinedictinvertzoology/
6. www.academia.edu
7. www.youtube.com
8. www.wikipedia.org