JOURNAL OF PLANKTON RESEARCH | VOLUME 11 | NUMBER 4 | PAGES 633-648 | 1989
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research-article |
Laboratory cultured zoeae and megalopa of the mangrove crab Metaplax distincta H.Milne Edwards, 1852 (Brachyura: Sesarminae)
Marine Ecology and Coastal Aquaculture Unit, Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology, Annamalai University Parangipettai 608 502, Tamil Nadu, India
Received on September 8, 1986; accepted on March 18, 1989 Larvae of Metaplax distincta were reared in the laboratory to the first crab instar under the culture conditions of 20±1%, 27±1°C and 12/12 h light/dark. First zoeae reached the first crab instar in six moults, after a minimum time of 19 days. Five zoeal stages and a megalopa stage are described and compared with other known descriptions of sesarminid species.