Larvae of decapod crustacea of the Philippines. III. Larval development of the giant tiger prawn, Penaeus monodon reared in the laboratory

Abstract

The egg, larval stages and the first postlarva of the giant tiger prawn, Penaeus monodon Fabricius, reared from egg in the laboratory are described and illustrated.

Six naupliar, three protozoeal and three mysis stages are recognized. The larvae of P. monodon are morphologically similar to those of P. japonicus described by Hudinaga except for the following characters: 1) number of setae on first antenna of fourth and fifth nauplii is 5 or 6 in P. monodon, but it is 7 in P. japonicus; 2) supra-orbital spine of second protozoea is bifurcated at base in P. monodon, but at tip in P. japonicus; 3) number of segments of endopod of second maxilliped of second mysis is 5 in P. monodon, but it is 4 in P. japonicus; 4) number of rostral spines in second and third myses is 0 and 0 or 1 respectively in P. monodon, but it is 1 and 2 respectively in P. japonicus.