Distribution, reproductive biology and biochemical composition of Rhopalophthalmus indicus (Crustacea: Mysida) from a tropical estuary (Cochin backwater) in India

Abstract

Distribution, reproductive biology and biochemical composition of Rhopalophthalmus indicus were investigated based on samples collected over a period of one year from Cochin backwater. Rhopalophthalmus indicus was recorded throughout the year with peak abundance during pre-monsoon. The population density was influenced by chlorophyll-a, dissolved oxygen, salinity and water temperature. The species showed periodicity in the abundance and produced more than one generation per year. The number of embryos carried by a single female ranged from six to 13, and was correlated with female body length (P . 0.05), tending to increase with the size of the female. Egg size varied between 0.42 and 0.47 mm, and was independent of female size. Both males and females attain sexual maturity at a length of 8.4 mm. Seasonality is observed in biochemical composition, as mature males and females had higher protein contents, immature stages contained high carbohydrate content and brooding females accumulated more lipids.

Adaptation and potential culture of wild Amphipods and Mysids as potential live feed in aquaculture: a review

“…Numerous species of tropical mysids have been found to reproduce continuously throughout the year ( Hanamura, Siow & Chee, 2008 ; Hanamura et al, 2009 ; Biju & Panampunnayil, 2010 ; Biju, Gireesh & Panampunnayil, 2010 ; Ramarn, Chong & Hanamura, 2012 ). Mysid reproductive biology resembles that of marsupials, including an embryonic stage, a nauplioid stage, and a post-nauplioid stage ( Wittmann, 1981 ; San-Vicente, Guerao & Olesen, 2014 ).…”

“…Rhopalopthalmus hastatus may lay as many as 17 eggs at once. Rhopalopthalmus indicus , Rhopalopthalmus mediterraneus , and Rhopalopthalmus tattersallae are all in the same genus and each have between 13 and 31 larvae ( Grabe, 1989 ; Baldó et al, 2001 ; Biju, Gireesh & Panampunnayil, 2010 ). Brood loss or abortion during data collection, storage, and experimental processing accounts for differences in brood size, as stated by Murtaugh (1989) and Paul et al (2016) .…”

Evaluation of Potential Factors affecting the Distribution of Mysids (Crustacea: Mysidacea) in Puttalam Lagoon, Sri Lanka

“…Mesopodopsis zeylanica is only the estuarine species documented in Sri Lanka from Bolgoda Lagoon (Nouvel, 1954;Punchihewa et al, 2017). This species is also found in a tropical estuary, the Cochin backwater in India (Biju and Panampunnayil, 2010). Mesopodopsis zeylanica and a new species, Sirella srilankensis were recorded from Negombo lagoon (Punchihewa and Krishnarajah, 2019).…”