Postembryonic growth and development of Caridina nilotica aruensis Roux (Decapoda: Atyidae) reared in the laboratory

Abstract

The larval growth and development of C. n. aruensis reared in the laboratory is described and illustrated. Four zoeal and one post-zoeal stages were found to occur with an approximate time between hatching and metamorphosis of 14 days. The mean egg size was 0.64 by 0.40 mm with standard deviations of 0.042 and 0.028 respectively, whilst the mean number of eggs per egg mass was 74 (s.d. 15.2). The large egg size of C. n. aruensis is correlated with an abbreviated larval life and is a feature of many freshwater shrimps. Zoeal locomotion was thoracic whilst that of the post-zoea was abdominal. The growth rate of C. n. aruensis is described.