Study of morphological charachteristic and abundance of larval stages of Polyonyx sp. (Anomura: Porcellanidae) for the first time from Iranian costal of Persian Gulf

Abstract

Anomura is a group of Malacostraca that constitute important communities of marine intertidal zone and deeper communities of benthic habitats. The larval stages differ among families of Anomura. In this investigation Anomura larval populations were sampled and studied from Iranian coastal waters of Persian Gulf in monthly basis from March to October 2011. Sampling process was conducted using surfing plankton net (mesh size 300 micron) and oblique tows were made from near the bottom to the surface water in 7 stations. Finally Polyonyx sp. were identified and their schematic figures were made using Camera Lucida. Maximum value of the average abundance of larvae (52.7±10.3 N/M3) was shown in May, the reason of ht related to the high accumulation of phytoplankton and consequently copepods, that are the main foods of Anomura larvae.

Keywords

• zooplankton
• anomura
• polyonyx sp.
• persian gulf