This monumental volume contains systematic morphology of the external organization and of the mantle cavity, including consideration of the shell and its relationship with the soft body. It covers special descriptions of the embryonic forms, with particular regard to molluscan phylogeny and general principles of comparative ontogenetic studies. Includes 142 text figures and 37 plates.

Contents:
Introduction
General Aspects and Basic Concepts On the Law of Conservative Preliminary Stages or the So-called "Fundamental Law of Biogenetics"

Main Section
On the Basic Concepts of Molluscan Morphology On the Particular Initial Conditions and Aims of Cephalopodan Ontogenenses The Typical Process of Early Embryonic Development in the Cephalopods (Dibranchiates) The Typical Course of Embryonic Development in the Decapods and its Modification The Embryonic Development of the Loliginids The Embryonic Development of the Oegopsids On the Embryonic Development of the Sepoids, Namely of the Genus Spirula and its Closest Relatives both Living and Fossil The Embryonic Development of the Sepiids The Embryonic Development of the Sepiolids The Embryonic Development of the Octopods The Embryonic Development of the Octopodids The Embryonic Development of the Argonautids

Concluding Section
Review and Summary of the Special Results On Disturbed and Abnormal Morphogenesis and its Relation to Normal Development Results of General Systematic and Methodological Nature Techniques Literature Index

Atlas with 37 Plates
Loligo vulgaris (PI. 1-7) l Oegopsid X (PI.8) Ommastrephid Y (PI. 9-12) Sepia officianlis (PI. 13-22) Sepiola and Sepietta (PI. 23) Octopus vulgaris (PI. 24-30) Tremoctopus violaceus (PI. 31) Argonauta argo (PI. 32-36) Argonauta and Ocythoë tuberculata (PI. 37)

Translated from German