Life History & Behaviour

Polycarpa papillata is classical biphasic pelago-benthic with a short lived, free swimming, pelagic larval form and sedentary adult (Zeng et.al 2006).  They are free spawning with eggs developing into small undifferentiated larvae which settle before undergoing metamorphosis and developing into the adult (Zeng et.al 2006).  They also have the ability to control their body and body parts to respond to different conditions that it may experience (Rocha et.al 2012).