Figure 5

Metamorphosis of the pilidium larva of Micrura alaskensis. Frames from a dark field microscopy video. A. Juvenile inside an intact pilidium larva. Golden pigment granules highlight the larval ciliated band. The juvenile of this species is enclosed within a thin amnion characteristically decorated with black and light brown pigment granules. B. The juvenile head ruptured through and emerged from the amnion and the pilidial epidermis. C. Newly metamorphosed juvenile devoured the entire larval body, as is evident from the pilidial pigment granules inside the gut showing through the body wall. See also additional file 1 -- Movie 1.