Independent migration of cell populations in the early gastrulation of the amphipod crustacean Parhyale hawaiensis

► We examine cell interaction during the early gastrulation of Parhyale hawaiensis. ► We observe bottle cells in a subset of internalizing mesoderm. ► Inhibition of actin and a putative acto-myosin regulator prevents gastrulation. ► Each of three cell populations involved in early gastrulation acts independently. ► Early Parhyale gastrulation relies on intrinsic signals.