Morpho-taxonomic study of first zoeas of Atergatis integerrimus (Lamarck, 1801) and A. floridus (Linnaeus, 1767) (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Xanthidae) reared in the laboratory

Abstract

Laboratory studies were carried out on an ovigerous female of Atergatis integerrimus (Lamarck, 1801) and A. floridus (Linnaeus, 1767) collected from Buleji (Karachi, Pakistan). After 9 days larvae were hatched out as first zoeal stage at room temperature 29oC-30oC and water temperature 28oC-29oC in filtered seawater with a salinity of 35-37 parts per thousand and pH 7.5-7.9. The larvae were fed Artemia nauplii. A description, illustration, and comparison of its first zoeal stages with the descriptions of its congeners are provided.

Keywords

• crustacea
• decapoda
• brachyuran
• xanthidae
• larvae