SETTLEMENT OF LARVAE OF SCYLLARUS KITANOVIRIOSUS HARADA(PALINURA, DECAPODA) IN THE SETO INLAND SEA

Abstract

The distributions of the phyllosoma and nisto larvae of Scyllarus kitanoviriosus HARADA were investigated in the Seto Inland Sea, Japan, in use of a small beam trawl net that was towed at 17 stations in daytime, during the period from December 1986 to November 1987. The stations were placed along isobaths of every 5 m of depth in an area shallower than 30 m in depth. Eightythree phyllosoma larvae (stages III-VIII) were caught in the season from August to November, and 32 nisto larvae only in September and October. The distribution of the stage VIII phyllosoma was identical to that of the stages III to VII. The nisto larvae appeared significantly in shallower area than the phyllosoma. Neither juvenile nor adult was caught with the trawl employed. The gillnet operated near rocky shore however, caught adults, of which the females were all ovigerous in September. This fact suggests that the last stage phyllosoma metamorphoses into the nisto in 15-25 m deep in September to October, and then metamorphoses into early juvenile stage after the settlement onto the rocky bed.