Complete larval development of Thenus unimaculatus Burton & Davie, 2007 (Decapoda, Scyllaridae)

Abstract

Larval development of the shovel-nosed lobster Thenus unimaculatus Burton & Davie, 2007 is described based on laboratory studies. The larval stages included four stages of phyllosoma (I-IV), followed by a post larval, non-feeding nisto stage which metamorphosed to the juvenile stage, also known as first seed. The nisto stage is reached in 26-30 days, the average duration of each phyllosoma (I-IV) and nisto was 7, 5, 7, 7 and 4 days, respectively. The phyllosomas are characteristically flattened, leaf-like, transparent planktonic larvae, while the nisto, translucent in appearance, remains sedentary at the bottom. The first juvenile stage has a hard exoskeleton and feeds on fresh clam meat. The survival rate from phyllosoma I to nisto was 22%.