Metamorphosis for many marine invertebrates depends on exposure to an external cue, commonly produced by bacteria. For larvae of the marine tubeworm Hydroides elegans, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from the biofilm-dwelling, Gram-negative bacterium Cellulophaga lytica was previously demonstrated to induce metamorphosis. To determine whether LPS is a common metamorphosis-inducing factor in this species, we compared LPS from inductive and non-inductive Gram-negative marine biofilm bacteria (Cellulophaga lytica, Thalassotalea euphilliae, Pseudoalteromonas luteoviolacea, and Tenacibaculum aiptasiae) with commercial LPS from human pathogens (Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa). LPS from inductive bacteria triggered metamorphosis, while LPS from non-inductive bacteria did not. Furthermore, we show that the inductive property of LPS resides within the polysaccharide (O-antigen) component from multiple species, suggesting a crucial role for conserved polysaccharide elements in triggering metamorphosis in H. elegans. These results provide insights into bacterial involvement in animal development and how marine benthic communities are established and maintained.