Larval Development of the Western White Shrimp Penaeus occidentalis Reared in the Laboratory

Abstract

The larval development of Penaeus occidentalis was described and illustrated based on laboratoryreared samples. Morphology of the larvae was also compared withthat of other Penaeus species in the eastern Pacific coast. The larvae of P. occidentalis passed 6 naupliar, 3 protozoeal, and 3 mysis stages before the first postlarva. The comparison reveals some mophological differences in segmentation, setal arrangement, body size, and body formation. The chronological pattern in the naupliar stage of P. occidentalis was the same as that of the other species.