Premières données sur la longévité, le rythme de ponte et la fécondité de Scolelepis cf. fuliginosa (polychète,spionidé) en élevage

Adult Scolelepis cf. fuliginosa Claparède, raised from laboratory-born larvae, have been cultivated at a temperature of 18.5°C for weeks or months. They were offered artificial food only. They attain sexual maturity after 39 to 157 days. As soon as sexing is possible, the polychaetes are transferred to small dishes and paired. Egg laying extends throughout the whole life cycle at 4.6 day intervals; this interval tends to increase with age and size. Egg production varies greatly, at the beginning of reproduction, productivity increases, then fluctuates considerably around a mean value which may be very different in different pairs. There are also important variations in the total number of eggs between pairs; the reasons for this are still unknown. An hypothesis is presented on the factors controlling egg release: it is suggested that the worms' energy budget makes egg laying possible only in winter and spring; at higher temperatures, energy release is insufficient for egg production, owing to the poor nutritional level. According to this hypothesis, temperature affects reproduction indirectly.