Development of Herdmania

Development of herdmania has been described by Sebestian (1953) and Das (1957). Development is indirect involving a free swimming tadpole larva. Herdmania furnish one of the best example of retrogressive metamorphosis in which highly developed tadpole larva undergoes retrogressive changes to become most degenerated and sedentary adult though common in some non chordate, this phenomenon is peculiar to Eurochordates and provides a clue to their chordate nature.
Fertilization is external. Although herdmania is hermaphrodite, self fertilization does not occur due to protogyny as female gametes become mature and dis-charged earlier than the male gametes of the same individual.