The larval development of the prawns Macrobrachium equidens and Macrobrachium sp. (Decapoda: Palaemonidae), reared in the laboratory

The larval development of two species of Macrobrachium reared in sea water is described. In one of these species, M. equidens (Dana), the larvae metamorphosed successfully in normal sea water whilst in the other, Macrobrachium sp., the postlarvae were only obtained in water of slightly lower salinity. Descriptions of the larval stages of both species are given and compared with larvae of other species of Macrobrachium.