Redescription and postmarsupial development of Apseudopsis latreillii (Crustacea: Tanaidacea)

Abstract

Apseudopsis latreillii is a common tanaidacean species widely-distributed in the north-east Atlantic, but its diagnostic characters remain unspecified. Furthermore, intraspecific variation in relation to its developmental stages has not been described. Knowledge about this variation is needed owing to the difficulty of identification of the significant number of juvenile specimens within samples, particularly when sympatric with other apseudid species. Specimens from three different localities of the north-east Atlantic have been examined, and the size of 766 individuals has been measured. Study of postmarsupial development shows that the manca II is followed by two juvenile stages before reaching maturity. Males present two possible morphologies. After a preparatory stage, females pass through a sequence of copulatory instars followed by intermediate stages in which the female loses the ovisac after manca release. Characters allowing the distinction of A. latreillii specimens regardless of developmental stage are the combination of a pointed and downturned rostrum, pereonites without apophyses, three ventral spines on the pereopod 1 propodus, and one dorsodistal spine on the merus.