Arrangement and significance of pinnate sensory setae on antennae of the puerulus and post-puerulus of the spiny lobster, Jasus edwardsii (Palinuridae)

Abstract

The arrangement of pinnate sensory setae on antennae of the puerulus and post-puerulus of the palinurid lobster Jasus edwardsii from New Zealand was examined by scanning electron microscopy. In the puerulus, fine pinnate setae were found in an almost continuous linear array extending along the centre of the medial surface of each antenna from near the tip of the flagellum and continuing onto some of the basal segments. A very similar arrangement persisted in the subsequent post-puerulus stage. This array of pinnate setae closely resembled that found previously in the puerulus and post-puerulus of Panulirus cygnus and attributed with possible roles in vibration detection and larval navigation. The possible function of these arrays of pinnate sensory setae in near-field and far-field vibration detection is discussed for J. edwardsii.