Larval stages of the deep-sea lobster Polycheles typhlops (Decapoda, Polychelida) identified by DNA analysis: morphology, systematic, distribution and ecology

Abstract

A total of 25 specimens of Eryoneicus larvae were collected near the Balearic Archipelago (Western Mediterranean Sea) in 2009 and 2010. Detailed morphological examination indicated that the smallest individual corresponded with the first zoea (ZI) stage of Polycheles typhlops hatched from a berried female by Guerao and Abelló (J Nat Hist 30(8): [1179][1180][1181][1182][1183][1184] 1996). Only two species of deep-sea polychelid lobster, namely P. typhlops and Stereomastis sculpta, are known to occur in the Mediterranean. Genetic distance comparisons and phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial 16S rDNA and Cox I genes of this early larva together with adults from several Polycheles and Stereomastis species allowed us to assign it to P. typhlops. This is the first wild-caught larval stage of a polychelid lobster being identified using molecular techniques. The remaining specimens were attributed to zoeal stages II-III and decapodid stage based on morphological comparison. The arrangement of spines along the anterior part of the middorsal line (R, 1, 1, 1, 2, C 1 ), characteristic of the former species E. puritanii, discriminates these larvae from other Eryoneicus found in the Mediterranean. The clear presence of epipods on the third maxilliped and pereiopods of the decapodid stage gives further support to the identification of E. puritanii as the larval stages of P. typhlops. Additionally, information on the ecology of these larvae, their abundances during different seasons, as well as their bathymetric distribution is reported.

Extreme morphologies of mantis shrimp larvae

“…Similar bulging shields are also known in another malacostracan group with giant larvae, namely Polychelida (Williamson and Rice, 1996;Martin, 2014;Torres et al, 2014;Eiler et Extreme stomatopod larvae Nauplius, 24: e2016020 al., 2016). The long spines seen in the "spiny balloon" probably also increase the buoyancy of this larval type.…”

“…Lewis, 1951;Johnson, 1971;Palero et al, 2014) or polychelid decapods (Williamson and Rice, 1996;Martin, 2014;Torres et al, 2014;Eiler et al, 2016) or also the slightly smaller larva formerly known as "Cerataspis monstrosa" (aristeid shrimp; Bracken-Grissom et al, 2012). Four types of mantis shrimp larvae have generally been distinguished, two early larval types and two later larval types ( Fig.…”

Molecular phylogeny of commercially important lobster species from Indian coast inferred from mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences

“…No other subspecies could be found in sampling even though Berry (1974) and Holthuis (1991) suspected occurrence of another sub species P. homarus megasculptus Pesta, 1915 along the west coast of India. Identification of wild-caught phyllosoma of lobsters was possible based on DNA analysis (Palero et al, 2011;Torres et al, 2014) and the data from this study can have potential application in precise larval identification. However, other genes and phylogenetic methods are also required to evaluate the evolution or phylogenetic information contained in the barcode region of COI (Da Silva et al, 2011).…”

A new “extreme” type of mantis shrimp larva

“…1.2), crustacean larvae include exceptions to this assumption with larval forms reaching into the centimeter range. Among these exceptions are larval forms of different lobsters (polychelidan lobsters, e.g., Martin, 2014;Torres et al, 2014;J.T. Haug et al, 2015;Eiler and J.T.…”