Larval development and delayed metamorphosis in the hermit crab Clibanarius erythropus (Latreille) (Crustacea, Diogenidae)

Abstract

Larvae of the hermit crab Clibanarius erythropus (Latreille) were reared in the laboratory at five different temperatures (12, 15, 18, 20 and 30°C). None developed to the juvenile at the two lowest temperatures tested. Survival up to the megalopa was high (87–100%) between 18 and 30°C, but only a few megalope developed to the first juvenile instar (10–27%). Metamorphosis to the juvenile could be increased by providing gastropod shells to the megalopa stage. Megalopae accepted gastropod shells when they were ≈ days old. At this age megalope also reached the “point of resever saturation”. Metamorphosis was delayed up to 12 days when gastropod shells were offered to the megalopae late in development, corresponding to a delay of 70% compared to the developmental duration when shells were available immediately after moulting to the megalopa stage. Food was essential for the magalopae only during the first 8 days; later starvation did not influence developmental duration, but may have affected survival.