Distribution of planktonic malacostraca and cephalopod paralarvae in the South China Sea, Area III: Western Philippines

Abstract

Zooplankton samples from 31 stations in the western Philippines water were collected by M.V. SEAFDEC on 7 April - 19 May 1998. Six major groups were identified: Euphausiacea, Natantia (Penaeidea and Caridea), Reptantia, Brachyura, Stomatopoda and cephalopod paralarvae. Three genera of Euphausiacea were found, they belong to one family: this group formed 25.1% - 90.9% of total taxonomic groups at different stations. The superfamiiy Penaeidea consisted of seven genera belong to four families. Caridea larvae were composed of 11 families including 19 genera. Retantia consisted of three infraorder: Stenopodidea, Thalassinidea and Parinuridea. The infraorder Parinuridea comprised two families: Palinulidae and Scyllaridae. Fourteen families of Brachyura larvae occurred in the study area. Stomatopoda was composed of three families including three genera. Cephalopoda paralarvae were presented in the plankton samples by six families representing eight genera. The maximum counts for malacostraca larvae and cephalopod paralarvae was observed at station 16. The present study reveals that some economic species such as Penaeus spp., Parapenaeus spp., Panulirus spp., Scyllarus spp., Portunus spp. and Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis were important components of the zooplankton assemblages in the western Philippines.