Abstract
Females of three species of the family Mysidae were found to capture and introduce liberated larvae of other females into their brood pouch. This behaviour, which will be termed adoption, occurs in the laboratory as well as in the natural populations of the Adriatic and the Tyrrhenian Sea. A minimum estimate indicates that, in nature, 0.25% of the breeding females of Leptomysis bürgii Bǎcescu and 0.80% of the females of Leptomysis lingvura G.O. Sars carry adopted young. The females adopt in specific patterns according to age and species of the young. Parts of larvae are also accepted in a similar pattern indicating that chemosensory mechanisms may be involved. Depending on the relation between the age of the adopted and original larvae, the former complete their larval development in the marsupium or are lost upon moult of the female. Larvae which are not in an appropriate age stage to finish larval development in any particular marsupium are rarely accepted. Adoption probably results from a larvae replacement behaviour which serves to inhibit loss of larvae. The females do not appear to clean their brood. There are further intensive interactions between larvae and females when fully developed larvae are released.
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