|
During the first 4 or 5 days of postlarval life, the animals are
planktonic. In subsequent stages, they can be seen to cling to the
walls of the tank or will take up a completely demersal life. By
substage Pl7 (7-day-old postlarvae), the larvae of burrowing species
often are able to burrow in the sand. Feeding by the postlarvae is
accomplished by the chelate periopods, which are able to grasp and
hold food. Pleopods are used in swimming (Treece & Yates, 1988). Size ranges of PL-stage based on measurements of P. japonicus and P. duorarum |