The puerulus of Panulirus guttatus is described and
compared with that of P. argus, a sympatric species.
Comparative morphological data show that the former has a more specialized
form than the latter and hence is more recent in evolutionary terms. Features
characterizing the puerulus of P. guttatus are its
relatively large size, long spatulate antennae, and well developed sternal
spines. The possible adaptive value of the long spatulate antennae for
selection of specific substrata and/or navigation through inshore waters
is discussed in relation to the ecology of the juvenile and adult phases.
Pueruli of P. guttatus are not found in the surface
collectors, resembling marine vegetation, used to monitor the influx of
pueruli of P. argus into coastal waters on the Caribbean
coast of Mexico. Moreover, small juveniles of
P. guttatus are never found in the natural habitat of
those of P. argus, and large juveniles and adults of
P. guttatus seem restricted to the shallow coral reef
habitat, in contrast to similar phases of P. argus,
which occupy a vast array of habitats and depths throughout their benthic
life. It is hypothesized that the pueruli of both species settle in different
habitats, which would partly explain their sharing of the same geographic
distribution.
REPRODUCTION OF THE SPINY LOBSTER PANULIRUS GUTTATUS (DECAPODA: PALINURIDAE) ON THE CARIBBEAN COAST OF MEXICO