Redescription of the complete developmental stages of Pilumnopeus convexus (Maccagno, 1936) (described as Pilumnus sp.) (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Pilumnidae)

Abstract

The present paper is based on the result of laboratory rearing of Pilumnopeus convexus from the 1st zoeal to megalopa stage earlier described asas Pilumnus sp. But as Pilumnopeus convexusthis will be the ever first report of the larvae of Pilumnopeus convexus. The ovigerous female was collected from P.N.S. Himalya, Karachi (Long 66o58’42”E, Lat 24o47’30”N) on 11 nov, 1985 and maintained in the wet laboratory of MRC, recently reexamined and identified as Pilumnopeus convexus. Larvae were hatched, at room temperature 18-29oC in filtered seawater of a salinity of 36 ppt and pH 7.9.All the larval stages of Pilumnopeus convexusare described along with their illustrations, taken from earlier description as Pilumnus sp and compared with the available descriptions of congeneric species of Pilumnopeus and allied genera.