The complete larval development of the lobster shrimp Boasaxius princeps Boas, 1880 (Decapoda: Axiidea: Axiidae) obtained in the laboratory

摘要

The complete larval development of Boasaxius princeps (Boas, 1880) (Decapoda: Axiidea: Axiidae) is described and illustrated for the first time from material reared in the laboratory. The development includes eight zoeal stages and a single megalopal stage. At 20-22°C the first megalopa was attained 38 days after hatching. It is the first description of the larvae of a lobster shrimp with long development obtained under laboratory conditions. An identification key to zoeal stages of B. princeps is presented. Numerous characters show that zoeae of B. princeps are similar to the larvae of Axiopsis serratifrons. Thus, according to the overall similarities of the larval characters, Boasaxius and Axiopsis are closer to each other than other axiid genera.