Early development and larval stages of Palaemon tenuipes (Henderson)

Abstract

Palaemon tenuipes Henderson, locally known as Mutta chemmeen' though of little commercial value is often caught during the monsoon period at Cannanore. Studies on the embryonic and larval development of palaemonid prawns from Indian waters are very few and studies of Menon (1939) on the first two larval stages of Palaemon carcinus and Palaemon raids. Das (1935) and Rajyalakshmi (1961) on Palaemon lamarrei H. M. Edw., Nataraj (1947) and Iyer (1949) on the Palaemon idae Heller, and John (1947) on the life history of Palaemon carcinus Fabr., are there. In 1960 Rajyalakshmi has made a comparative observation on the early development and larval stages of Palaemon malcomsonii—H. M. Edw., P. rudis Heller., P. mirdbilis Kemp and P. scabriculus Heller. So far no studies have been carried out on the developmental and larval stages of Palaemon tenuipes from Indian waters. The present account on the development of P. tenuipes is based on the oteervations on the early developmental stages of the species followed upto the third stage.