Life History:

The life cycle of Polycarpa papillata is classical biphasic pelago-benthic with a short lived, free swimming, pelagic larval form and sedentary adult (Zeng et.al 2006).  They spawn their eggs which then develop into small undifferentiated larvae which settles before undergoing metamorphosis and developing into the adult form (Fig. 5;Zeng et.al 2006).  All individuals are solitary although adult morphologies are variable depending on environmental conditions (see Physical description; Kott, 1985; Castilla et.al 2000; Zeng et.al 2006).