Morphological characteristics and distribution of Ocypodidae at zoea one larvae stage from coastal waters of Khuzestan Province, Persian Gulf

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Abstract

Taxonomic studies on the Brachyura larvae of the Persian Gulf are relatively few. Samples
were collected monthly with a 300μ mesh size plankton net from coastal waters of Khuzestan
(Northern Persian Gulf) during May 2007 to April 2008. The stage one zoea larva of 8 species
Macrophthalmus depressus, Serenella leachii, Ilyoplax frater, Tylodiplax indica, Dotilla
blanfordi, Dotilla sulcata, Uca annulipes and Scopimera crabricauda of Ocypodidae were
illustrated and described in detail. Common morphological characteristics in identified species
of Ocypodidae are dorsolateral processes on second and third abdominal segments and also
two aesthetasc on antennules. Spatial and temporal variations in density of larval stages of
Ocypodidae were studied. In warmer months Macrophthalmus depressus larvae (1264 ind/m3
in March, in other warm months (May, June, August and September 2007) M. depressus
larvae with average of 97, 168, 87, 318 and 1264ind/m3, respectively were the dominant
species agagin and Ilyoplax frater larvae (457ind/m3) in July 2007 were the dominant species.
However, in colder months (November and February 2008), Camptandrium sp1 larvae was
dominant with 76 ind/m3 and 56 ind/m3 for the two months, respectively.
*Corresponding author

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Iranian Scientific Fisheries Journal
Volume 20, Issue 2
March and April 2011
Pages 73-88

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