Early Larval Development of the Spiny Lobster Panulirus Homarus (Linnaeus, 1758) Reared in the Laboratory

Abstract

Phyllosoma larvae of the spiny lobster, Panulirus homarus were hatched and reared in the laboratory on a diet of Artemia salina nauplii. The larvae were rcared in individual as well as in mass culture systems. The temperature of the rearing water ranged from 26 to 29°C and salinity from 34 to 35‰. The larvae reared individually moulted nine times and reached the sixth stage in sixty days. Mean total length of the newly hatched larva was 1.48 mm and stage VI larva measured an average of 4.87 mm. The early stages ofphyllosoma larva of P. homarus are morphologically similar to those of other tropical species. Larvae infested with sedentary ectoparasites were effectively treated with 10 ppm malachite green. Change in feeding habits resulted in mortality of the larvae in the sixth stage. RÉSUMÉDes larves phyllosomes de la langouste Panulirus homarus ont éclos, puis ont été élevées au laboratoire grâce à un régime de nauplies d'Artemia salina. Les larves ont été élevées aussi bien individuellement qu'en masse. La température de l'eau d'élevage était de 26 à 29°C et la salinité de 34 à 35‰. Les larves élevées individuellement ont mué 9 fois et ont atteint le sixième stade en soixante jours. La longueur totale moyenne des larves nouvellement écloses était de 1,48 mm et la larve au stade VI mesurait en moyenne 4,87 mm. Les premiers stades de la larve phyllosome de P. homarus sont morphologiquement semblables à ceux des autres espèces tropicales. Les infestées d'ectoparasites sédentaires ont été effectivement traitées avec 10 ppm de vert malachite. La modification du régime alimentaire a abouti à la mortalité des larves au sixième stade.

The early phyllosoma stages of spiny lobster Panulirus echinatus Smith, 1869 (Decapoda: Palinuridae) reared in the laboratory

“…But, for P. homarus, cultured individually, this period increased to 8 to 10 days. When P. homarus were submitted to mass culture, this period increased to 12 to 14 days (Radhakrishnan and Vijayakumaran, 1995). These facts may be related to the elevated density.…”

“…Some foods were initially well accepted by the phyllosomas, but later were rejected. This behaviour may be related to nutritional aspects, because many (Linnaeus, 1758) (Radhakrishnan and Vijayakumaran, 1995) and for P. ornatus (Fabricius, 1776) (Duggan and McKinnon, 2003) in which, 10 and 9 early instars were reared and described, respectively. More recently, Abrunhosa et al (2004) described and compared the morphological characteristics of three early instars of P. laevicauda and P. echinatus, contributing to the identification of phyllosomas that occur on the Brazilian coast.…”

“…Exopod more developed, lacking setae. (Inoue, 1981), P. longipes (by Matsuka and Yamakawa), P. h o marus (by Radhakrishnan and Vijayakumaran, 1995) and P. inflatus (by Inoue, 1981). The initial number of setae 3, 5, 5 in the exopods of the third maxilliped and pereopods and their gradual increase are also similar to the reported species.…”

“…The Intermoult period appears to be distinct for palinurid species and may vary in accordance to the rearing conditions in which the larvae are submitted, such as, adaptation, type of food administered, density, water quality, and others (Kittaka and Ikegani, 1988;Kittaka and Ikegami, 1988;Kittaka and Kimura, 1989;Radhakrishnan and Vijayakumaran, 1995;Kittaka et al, 1998;Matsuda and Yamakawa, 2000;Sekine et al, 2000). Kittaka and Kimura (1989) rearing phyllosomas of P. japonicus, obtained an intermoult period of 6 to 7 days for instar I.…”

“…For the species P. homarus, information on the average length, number of setae in the apical segment of the 2 nd maxilla and number of the exopod setae of each appendage were based on the illustrations reported by Radhakrishnan and Vijayakumaran (1995).…”