Development of the external genitalia of the giant prawn, Penaeus monodon

Abstract

The present paper deals with the morphological development of the external genitalia of Penaeus monodon which will serve as a basis for future researches on the reproductive biology of this species. The petasma length is taken as the median linear distance between the anterior and posterior margins of the organ, and the thelycum length the linear distance between the anterior edge of the boss-like antero-median plate and the posterior margin of the lateral plates. A description is given of the metamorphosis of male and female genitalia of P. monodon.