Comparative Larval Development in Two Species of the Burrowing Ghost Shrimp Genus Lepidophthalmus (Decapoda: Callianassidae)

Abstract

The early life history is described and compared in the estuarine callianassid shrimp species Lepidophthalmus sinuensis from the Caribbean coast of Colombia and L. louisianensis from the northern Gulf of Mexico, on the basis of laboratory larval cultures and wild plankton collections. Both species have an abbreviated larval development of 2 zoeal stages usually transcended within 3-4 days, with that of L. sinuensis being the shorter and exhibiting greater advancement in the zoeal stages. Development in both species is markedly shorter and morphologically more advanced than in comparable callianassid species for which stages have been described, including most of those known to have only 2 zoeal stages. Larval duration in Lepidophthalmus is nearest that of the ecologically comparable Callianassa s.l. kraussi from southern Africa and suggests possible convergence in early developmental strategies. On the basis of presently known larval histories, genera allied to Lepidophthalmus within the Callichirinae appear to either have long larval histories of 5 zoeal stages, or, if of 2 stages, to bear a morphological resemblance as zoeae to comparable stages in some of the non-Callichirinae. The decapodid (first postlarval) stage is imaginal in form and exhibits burrowing behavior, though appendage development is far short of adult form. Successive early postlarval development and behavior beyond this stage remains unknown. Detailed illustrations of zoeal and decapodid stages are provided to support comparative discussions and for use in larval identifications.

Egg production of the burrowing shrimp Callichirus seilacheri (Bott 1955) (Decapoda, Callianassidae) in northern Chile

“…It has been demonstrated that egg size is correlated with both the duration of embryogenesis and the size of hatchlings (Steele and Steele 1975;Wehrtmann and López 2003). Regarding thalassinideans, the available information demonstrate that species with an abbreviated larval development such as Callianassa kraussi (Forbes 1973), C. tyrrhena (Thessalou et al 1999) and L. sinuensis (Nates et al 1997) produce larger eggs than those with extended larval development (C. filholi: 0.68 mm, Berkenbusch and Rowden 2000). According to Aste and Retamal (1983), the larval development of C. seilacheri consists of five larval stages; thus our egg volume data confirm that relatively small eggs indicate a prolonged larval period.…”

Larval development of Lepidophthalmus siriboia Felder & Rodrigues, 1993 (Decapoda: Thalassinidea) from the Amazon region, reared in the laboratory

“…Nates et al (1997) In terms of and larval morphology, several differences were observed between L. siriboia, L. louisianensis L. sinuensis (Table 1). The number of setae in the telson for L. louisianensis (10+1+10) and for L. sinuensis (14+1+14) and a reduced number of setae for S. siriboia (7+1+7) appear to be very characteristic for evident distinction between these species.…”

“…An important study on larvae of this genus Lepidophthalmus was accomplished by Nates et al (1997) in which the authors report a detailed description of two species, L. sinuensis, from the coast of Colombia, and L. louisianensis, from the Gulf of Mexico. In Brazil, few studies on the Callianassidae larvae are available.…”

Settlement cues in an Atlantic coast population of the ghost shrimp Callichirus major (Crustacea:Decapoda:Thalassinidea)

“…Marked abbreviation of development in related callianassids of the genus Lepidophthalmus is thought to reflect a n adaptation for retention of these oligohaline species in disjunct coastal estuaries (Nates et al 1997). The Atlantic population of C. major inhabits exposed, intertidal, high energy, quartzite sand beaches, which are readily available along the southeastern U. S. Atlantic coast.…”