The Relative Growth of Panulirus Phyllosoma Larvae in Japanese Waters

Abstract

Examination of relative growth of cephalic shield length, cephalic shield width, thorax width and abdomen length to body length revealed the occurrence of six forms of Panulirus phyllosoma, five known and one undescribed, in Japanese waters. These forms were identified as follows: Oshima's form F, which has been proposed as P. japonicus, is identical with this species and includes P. longipes which has close affinity to P. japonicus. Murano's form C is identified as P. penicillatas. Murano's form D and the authors form D' may correspond to P. versicolor and P. ornatus, respectively. Oshima's form E is suggested to be P, homarus. Because of the samall number of specimens and limited information on the morphological characteritics of P. homarus group, the specific identification of forms D, D' and E is tentative. Specific allocation of form B still remains to be investigate. Relative growth seems to be a useful method for the identification and classification of palinurid phyllosoma. © 1989, The Japanese Society of Fisheries Science. All rights reserved.