On the phyllosoma of Mandapam

Abstract

Several species of lobsters belonging to the families Palinuridae and Scyllaridae have been known to occur in Indian waters but the lack of information of their larvae is rather striking. This is perhaps because of the relative scarcity of these larvae in the plankton collections made in the inshore waters and probably also due to the difficulty in rearing them in captivity for a long time, for the duration of larval life is known to be long and may range from three to six or seven months.