Description of the newly-hatched juvenile of Aegla paulensis (Decapoda, Anomura, Aeglidae)

Zootaxa. 2013:3635:501-19. doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.3635.5.1.

Abstract

The postembryonic development of Aegla paulensis is epimorphic (= direct), in which the hatching form is a juvenile that morphologically resembles the adult. Hatching is asynchronous, taking 3-5 days for all juveniles from a single brood to hatch. This paper provides a complete description of the external morphology of the newly-hatched juvenile of A. paulensis as analyzed through light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). One of the striking features ob- served in the newly-hatched juvenile of A. paulensis was the presence of four pairs of rudimentary pleopods, a trait never described before in early juveniles of Aegla. Additional novelties include three unique types of setae and two types of pore sensilla.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Decapoda / classification*
  • Decapoda / growth & development
  • Decapoda / ultrastructure*
  • Species Specificity