Studies on the Larval Stages of Euphausiacea from the Indian Seas: 1. Diagnostic characters of post-naupliar stages of Euphausia diomedeae Ortmann and E.distinguenda Hansen

Abstract

Developmental stages of Euphausiacea identified from the zooplankton samples Collected during the cruises of R.V. VARUNA from the continental shelf waters of the south west coast of India have been described. Brief descriptions for the post-naupliar developmental stages (3 calyptopes and 6 furcilia stages) of the two species of Euphausia, E. diomedeae Ortmann and E. distinguenda Hansen have been presented with relevant figures. The distinguishing characters between the larvae belonging to the two species which are the most abundantly occurring Euphausiacea in the epipelagic zone of the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean have been pointed out.