Rearing of Petrolisthes Lamarckii (Leach, 1820) Under Laboratory Conditions (Decapoda, Porcellanidae)

Abstract

The complete larval development under laboratory conditions of the porcellanid crab, Petrolistbes lamarckii is described and illustrated for the first time. There is a pre-zoeal stage of short duration, two zoeal stages, and a megalopal stage. This species is closely related to Petrolisthes rufescens. The larvae of both these species are very similar in many respects but can be distinguished from each other by certain features (table I). Comparison of some important zoeal characters in four Petrolisthes species of Karachi, namely, Petrolisthes rufescens, P. ornatus, P. boscii and P. lamarckii is made to distinguish their larvae in the plankton.