The New Zealand scampi, Metanephrops challengeri , is a lobster species which has an extensive distribution on much of the continental shelf and slopes around the country in depths between 140 and 640 m. This species is important ecologically, and forms the basis of a valuable commercial fishery. Despite the significance of this species, there is limited information on its reproductive and larval biology. This article described the larval development of M. challengeri , from specimens reared in the laboratory from egg to juvenile for the first time, hatching as a pre‐zoea, moulting to a stage 1 zoea then to a stage 2 zoea, metamorphosing to a post‐larva, and then moulting to a first juvenile lobster. The methods and equipment of capture and care of ovigerous females, egg hatching, and larval rearing are described. M. challengeri is the fourth of 18 known lobster species of the worldwide clawed lobster genus Metanephrops to have its full larval development described from reared developmental stages.
Heasman et al. (2026) studied this question.