Triops (Apus), Str, Eptoce, Phalus and Estheria
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ON POST-EMBRYONIC STAGES OF PHYLLOPOD CRUSTACEANS, TRIOPS (APUS), STR, EPTOCE, PHALUS AND ESTHERIA BY MRS. PREMLAXMI G. PAl (Department of Zoology, University of Pooita, Poona 7) Received January 4, 1957, after revision April 5, 1958 (Communicated by Dr. M. A. Moghe, F.A.SC.) CONTENTS PAGE INTRODUCTION .... 6 O t 229 MATERIAL AND METHODS .. O m m 230 OBSERVATIONS : (a) Triops .. • O .. 23t (b) Streptocephalus .. O • .. 236 (c) Estheria .. 6 D .. 240 DISCUSSION .... I Q .. 243 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS • • O Q .. 248 SUMMARY .... • Q .. 248 REFERENCES .... I O .. 249 ABBREVIATIONS USED IN TEXT-FIGURES • • .. 250 INTRODUCTION CRUSTACEA, whose post-embryonic stages are described in this paper, viz., Triops (Apus) orientalis, Streptocephalus dichotomus Baird and Estheria are found in pools and shallow reservoirs on the table-lands of the Deccan Plateau and round about Poona. Most of these pools and ponds dry for some months during summer but the eggs of these remain in the soil. They hatch after the first showers of rain in early June. Larvm in various stages of development can be collected during June. Adults are available up to the end of January. The eggs of these animals are spherical and are provided with a hard coat which appears to be resistant to variations in external conditions. The 229 230 Mas. PREMLAXMI (~. PAt temperature of soil in Poona in summer varies from 94 ° F. to 124° F. (between 12 noon and 4p.m.). The occurrence of these phyllopods in Panchgani was noticed by several field workers. Cannon (1924) obtained a sample of dry soil containing eggs of Estheria, collected in the neighbourhood of Baghdad by Captain T. Buist, R.A.M.C. On placing the soil in water Cannon found that nauplii hatched out within about 24 hours and he observed that they fed on the green scum on the sides of the aquarium, on micro-organisms. He got adult Estheria in three weeks. Gurney (1925) obtained specimens from Baghdad and identified the Estherid specimens as belonging to two genera. He examined about 20 speci- mens, two of which belonged to the genus Leptestheria and others to Estheria (=Cyzicus or Eocyzicus). He also observed that the two genera differed in rather minute details. Gurney (1925) obtained specimens of Apus, some of which were from Panchgani. The Panchgani specimens were identified by him as Apus asiaticus. Specimens from Bulandhar in Kashmir were identified as Apus cancriformis. Both the Asiatic species showed many differences from the European species, A. cancriformis. Tiwari (1952) identified the Panchgani specimens as Triops orientalis, but Longhurst (1955) considered them and those collected from Rajasthan, Apus mavliensis as Triops granarius. As early as 1885, Claus worked on the morphology, development and s~condary sexual characteristics of Branchipus and Artemia. Botnariuc (1947, 1948) described the development of some phyllopods (Conchrostraca): Cyzicus tetracerus Kryn., Eoleptestheria variabilis Botn., Lynceus andronachensis Both., Leptestheria intermedia Botn. and Imnadia voitestii Botn. and Orgh. Reference to the occurrence of Streptocephalus dichotomus is found in the monograph by von Daday (1910). Coopey (1950) described the life- history of Eubranchipus oregonius and Cannon (1926) worked on the post- embryonic development of the shrimp (Chirocephalus diaphanus) and com- pared it with that of Estheria. MATERIAL AND METHODS There are various localities round about Poona where these animals are available. Dried mud or soil from Panchgani North Satara District (altitude 4296 ft. above m.s.1.) contains eggs of Triops and Estheria. Soil from a pond on the hill fortress at Panhala, Kolhapur District (altitude 2,772 ft. m.s.1.) contains eggs of Triops, Estheria and Streptocephalus. Soil from a pond at Sinhagad Fort, Poona District (altitude 4,320 ft. m.s.1.) contains eggs Triops (Apus), Streptocephalus and Estheria 231 of Streptocephalus and some cyprids. Adult specimens of Streptoeephalus and Estheria are found in ponds in Katraj Ghat (Poona District). OBSERVATIONS Soil or dried mud from these localities was brought to the laboratory and put in small aquaria, one containing distilled water, another chlorinated tap water and the third containing muddy water from a nearby canal. Separate aquaria were used for soils from each locality. Eggs from the soil put in the aquarium containing distilled water floated for about 5-7 days, those in tap and muddy canal water hatched in about 12-24 hours. Larvae in the muddy water hatched in about 12 hours but grew faster. Addition of bread powder and yeast did not affect relative growth, but addition of diatoms and protozoans accelerated growth. It was necessary to bubble air conti- nuously in the aquaria. The larvae were fixed in Bouin's fluid at intervals and were stained with borax carmine and mounted. The following are the observations made from the whole mounts as well as from living specimens from the aquaria. (a) Triops orientalis Egg is spherical with a diameter of 0" 2 mm. It has a chitinous covering. The eggs when immersed in water hatch in about 12 hours. Stage 1 (Fig. 1) 12 hours larva.--The larva at this stage is a nauplius and measures about 0.25 mm. in length. The body is broader at the anterior end and narrow at the posterior end. The trunk region is unsegmented and the anal plate is bifurcated into anal furca (an.f.). The cephalothorax (ce.th.) has three pairs of appendages, viz., antennules, antennae and mandibles. The antennule (anl.) is very small and not visible beyond carapace. The antennae (ant.) and mandibles (md.) are biramous and provided with long setaae. Anterior portion of the body is covered with carapace. Median eye or ocellus is seen in a notch in the anterior region of the body. Ventrally the labrum (lbr.) is large, plate like and almost covering one-third the length of the body. Stage 2 (Fig. 2) 17 hours larva.--Nauplius larva at this stage measures about 0-3 mm. in length. The cephalothorax region is broadened and also increased in length. Three pairs of cephalic appendages are seen as in the previous stage; the antennae and mandibles have increased in length and are supplied with long setxe. Each antenna is supplied with thumb-like endo- podite and a conical exopodite. Dorsal organ (Fig. 2, d.o.) is visible and covers most part of the cephalic region and is yellowish brownish in appear- ance in living specimens due to the presence of yolk material. Below the 232 MRS. PREMLAXMI G. PAI dorsal organ, is the space of cardiac cavity (c.c.). The median eye is well pigmented, but the two compound eyes on either side remain unnoticed as they are less pigmented. Carapace covers half the length of the body. Anal Ol. ~n,~. ~. I ~.p, an.~ - i o.,[ ~. I___ a.f. FTGS. 1-3. Fig. 1. Triops orientalis, Larva 1'2 hours, Lateral view. Fig. 2. Triops orientalis. Larva 17 hours, Dorsal view. Fig. 3. Triops orientalis. Larva 20 hours, Ventral view. Magnification: Fig, 1. 18xxl0x, Fig. 2. 18xxl0x. Fig. 3. 10xxl0x. Triops (Apus), Streptocephalus and Estheria 233 plate is very broad and ends in caudal furca. Mandible is more than one- third the length of antenna. It consists of a basal disc bearing a finger-shaped division, the palp, bearing a pair of set~e. Stage 3 (Fig. 3) 20 hours larva.--Larva is about 0.4 mm. in length. The anterior end is very much increased and broadened. The three pairs' of cephalic appendages are increased in size of which the antennule is unseg- mented, straight and blunt and with two set~e. Below the mandibles are seen a pair of maxilke, bud of first thoracic foot and five buds of thoracic limbs protruding followed by an unsegmented trunk portion. Median eye is very prominent and the two sessile eyes becoming big and have a brownish tinge. Labrum is still broad and large. Carapace is broadened and almost covers the first two thoracic limbs in addition to the cephalic appendages. Stage 4 (Figs. 4 and 5) 24 hours larva.--Larva is about 0.55 mm. in length. The carapace covers the first three trunk limbs (Fig. 4). In Fig. 5 seven buds of trunk limbs are followed by demarcation of four segments deeply marked and followed by faint transverse lines demarcating the segments. Digestive tube is seen with two digestive pouches at its anterior end as is very dearly seen due to the transparent exoskeleton. The food particles in the alimentary canal are seen in the form of suspended particles. The first thoracic foot is seen without its endites and the anal plate is bifurcated. Stage 5 (Fig, 6) 36 hours larva.--Larva is 0.65 mm. in .length; appen- dages on the cephalothorax are the same as in previous stages, except that there is now the beginning of maxilla. Instead of the median eye two sessile eyes slightly pigmented are seen on either side gradually becoming larger in size and receding from the median eye. The caudal furca have increased in length and bear set~e. The carapace is very broad and covers almost the first two trunk segments. The first thoracic foot is seen to be segmented. Stage 6 (Figs. 7 and 8) 48 hours larva.--Larva is now 0.85 mm. in length. The first three cephalic appendages show the highest growth and are supplied with long set~e. The first and second maxilla are present but usually covered by the thoracic feet. The median eye in the notch is very conspicuous and the two sessile eyes take a bean-shaped structure and are with more pig- mentation than in the previous stages. In Fig. 7 (D.V.) the dorsal organ and cardiac cavity are noticeable.