Complete Larval Development of the Edible Mud.Shrimp Upogebia Edulis Ngoc-Ho & Chan, 1992 (Decapoda, Thalassinidea, Upogebiidae) Reared in the Laboratory

Abstract

The larvae of the edible mud shrimp Upogebia edulis were successfully reared in the laboratory for the first time. The freshly laid eggs were orange in colour and 1.08 mm x 1.00 mm in average size. The diameter of eyed eggs was between 1.17 mm x 1.13 mm and 1.36 mm x 1.21 mm just before hatching. Under laboratory conditions at a water temperature of 23-26°C and a salinity of 33-34 ppt, newly hatched larvae were planktonic zoeae (average carapace length 0.90 mm) and already with biramous pleopods. The larvae quickly moulted into zoea II the next day and the average carapace length was 0.95 mm. On the third day, the larvae metamorphosed into decapodids with an average carapace length of 1.12 mm. The larval development of U. edulis is therefore abbreviated. The morphology of the larval stages is described in detail and comparisons are made with the larvae of some other Upogebia species found in the adjacent areas.