The ovigerous female of Micippa platipes Ruppell, 1830, captured from Buleji (Karachi, Pakistan) on February 7, 1993 and was kept under the laboratory conditions. On February 27, 1993 larvae were hatched in prezoeal stage. The presoeal stage of M. platipes passed through two zoeal stages within three to five days at room temperature (17-20C). The larvae are described, illustrated and compared with the larval account of Micippa thalia (Herbst, 1803) given by Kurata, 1969

Siddiqui, F.A.

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Pakistan Journal of Marine Sciences, VoL5(2), 155-160, 1996. 
LARVAL DEVELOPMENT OF MICIPPA PLAT/PES RUPPELL, 
1930, REARED UNDER LABORATORY CONDITIONS 
(CRUSTACEA, DECAPODA, MAJIDAE) 
Feroz A. Siddiqui 
Marine Ref~rence Collection and Resource Centre, University of Karachi, 
Karachi-7 5270, Pakistan. 
ABSTRACT: The ovigerous female of Micippa platipes Riippell, 1830, captured from Buleji (Karachi, 
Pakistan) on February 7, 1993 and was kept under the laboratory conditions. On February 27, 1993 larvae were 
hatched in prezoeal stage. The presoeal stage of M. platipes passed through two zoeal stages within three to 
five days at room temperature (17-20"C). The larvae are described, illustrated and compared with the larval 
account of Micippa thalia (Herbst, 1803) given by Kurata, 1969. 
KEY.WORDS: Decapod, Majidae, Larval development of Micippa platipes. 
INTRODUCTION 
The present paper is based on the larval development of a majid crab, Micippa 
platipes Ruppell, 1830, under laboratory conditions. 
The genus Micippa contains ten species, all reported from Indo-West Pacific Ocean 
(Griffin & Tranter, 1986). This genus is represented in Pakistan waters by two species: 
M. thalia and M. platipes; " ... M. philyra and M. platipes have been often confused and 
cited under various names" (Tirmizi & Kazmi, 1988: 185). 
Two zoeal stages of M. platipes are described and illustrated herein for the first time 
and compared with the first zoeal stage of M. thalia, reared in Japan (Kurata, 1969). 
MATERIAL AND METHODS 
Recently (February 7, 1993) an ovigerous female of M. platipes was collected from 
Buleji (long. 66"49'E, lat.24"56'N). The ovigerous female was kept in the laboratory in 
unfiltered seawater at 35-36%o salinity. The newly hatched larvae were segregated and 
transferred into four beakers with filtered seawater kept at room temperature (17-20"C). 
The newly hatched Artemia nauplii were given as food to the larvae. Exuviae, dead spec"-
imens and some live specimens were preserved in 5% buffered formalin for study, tem-
porary slides were prepared in glycerin and formalin (3:1). 
Measurements of larvae were made with an ocular micrometer. Setal formulas were 
given from the proximal to distal part of the appendage unless stated otherwise. Roman 
numeral denoting dorsolateral setae. The abbreviation 'TL' was used for total length. The 
specimens were dissected and illustrated under a binocular microscope of high magnifi-
cation (20x4.5). The spent female and the remaining larvae were deposited in the Marine 
Reference Collection & Resource Centre (MRC) Cat No.BRAC.561. 
156 Pakistan Journal of Marine Sciences, Vol.5(2), 1996 
AN , 
Fig.l. Micippa platipes Ruppell, 1830. A:., first zoea, lateral view; A', abdomen with tel-
son, dorsal view; B, antennule; C, antenna; D, mandibles; E, maxiUule; F, maxilla; 
G, first maxilliped; H, second maxilliped; I, third maxilliped. 
Siddiqui: Larval development of Micippa platipes 157 
RESULTS 
Zoeal 
Size: TL = 1.5-l.Smm. (l 0 specimens examined). Duration : 3-5 days. 
Carapace (Fig.lA).- Globular, dorsal spine absent, carapace length greater than ros-
tral spine, posterior dorsal setae absent; lateral spines straight and developed;eyes sessile. 
Abdomen (Fig.lA').- With 5 somites, each somite with a pair of fine setae on its dor-
sal surface; abdominal somites 2-5, each with a pair of spines on posterolateral angles; a 
pair of lateral spines also present on somites 2 and 3 each. 
Telson (Fig.lA').- Inner posterior margin of telson with 3 pairs of setae and a distinct 
narrow cleft; each furca with 3 lateral spines (2 large and 1 small). 
Antennule (Fig.lB).- Uniramous, with 3 aesthetascs and a single seta terminaUy. 
Antenna (Fig.l C).- Protopod and exopod equal in length protopod 2-segmented, with 
2 spines on distal segment; endopod about one-fourth length of exopod. 
Mandibles (Fig.lD).- Asymmetrical,with developed incisor and molar processes; 
palp absent. 
Maxillule (Fig.lE).- Coxal and basial endites each with 7 barbed setae; endopod 2-
segmented setal formula progressing distally 1,2+4. 
Maxilla (Fig.lF).- Coxal and basial endites bilobed each with 5 and 4 setae on prox-
imal and distal lobes respectively; endopod indistinctly bilobed, with 6 setae; scaphog-
nathite with 16-21 marginal plumose setae. 
Maxilliped I (Fig. 1 G).- Coxa with 1 seta; basis with 2,2,3,3 plumose setae on mesial 
margin in ascending order; endopod 5-segmented, with setal formula progressing distally 
3,2, 1 ,2,4+I; exopod with 4 long terminal natatory setae. 
Maxilliped II (Fig.lH).- No coxal setae; basis with 3 plumose setae on mesial mar-
gin; endopod 3-segmented, with setal formula progressing distally 0,1,3+I; exopod with 
4 long terminal natatory setae. 
Maxilliped III (Fig. 11).- Biramous but rudimentary. 
Pereiopods (Fig.3A-D).- Unsegmented rudimentary buds. 
Zoea II 
Size: TL = 1.8-2 mm. (5 specimens examined). 
Carapace (Fig.2A,A').- Slight increase in size without change in armature; eyes 
stalked. 
Abdomen (Fig.2A").- Sixth abdominal somite distinct,; pleopod buds developed; dor-
sal setae present as in zoea I. 
Telson (Fig2A").- No change otherwise median cleft somewhat wider. 
Antennule (Fig.2B).- With 4 terminal, 1 subterminal aesthetascs and a single seta; 
endopod rudimentary. · 
Antenna (Fig.2C).- No change except increase in size of endopo. 
Mandible (Fig.2D).- Incisor and molar processes increase in size; a small mandubu-
lar palp present. 
Maxillule (Fig.2E).- Coxal endite with 6 plumose setae on mesial margin and 1 
plumose seta on lateral margin; basial endite with 9 barbed setae; endopod unchange. 
Maxilla (Fig.2F).- Coxal and basial endites unchanged; endopod with 3 setae on 
each proximal and distal lobe; scaphognathite with 28-30 marginal plumose setae. 
158 Pakistan Journal of Marine Sciences, Vol.5(2), 1996 
--
3 
3 
p--
e;>-
3 3 
3 3 
Fig.2. Micippa platipes Rtippell, 1830. A, second zoea, lateral view; A', carapace, frontal 
view; A", abdomen with telson, dorsal view; B, antennule; C, antenna; D, mandible; 
E, maxillule; F, maxilla; G, first maxilliped; H, second maxilliped; I, third maxil-
liped; J, first pleopodal bud. 
Siddiqui: Larval development of Micippa platipes 
~ 
3 
3 
159 
Fig.3. Micippa platipes Riippell, 1830. Pereiopodal buds, A-D, f:rrst zoea; E-H, second 
zoe a. 
MaxiUiped I (Fig.2G).- Unchanged except ~xopod with 6 long n.atatory terminal 
setae. 
MaxiHiped II (Fig.2H).- Unchanged except exopod with 6 long n.atatory terminal 
setae. 
MaxiHiped ID (Fig.21).- Rudimentary bud; but en.dopod partially 3-segmen.ted. 
Pereiopods (Fig.3E-H).- Rudimentary buds, but segmented. 
DISCUSSION 
M. thalia is the only other species of the genus Micippa, was reared in. Japan. 
(Kurata, 1969) through all the larval stages: two zoeal and a megalopal stage. Kurata has 
160 Pakistan Journal of Marine Sciences, Vol.5(2), 1996 
illustrated zoea I and the megalopa. The English translation of the Japanese text is avail-
able for magalopa only, as such comparison between zoea I of M. platipes and with the 
illustrations fo M. thalia is given in a tabulated form: 
Table: Comparison of characters in zoea I. 
Characters 
Abdomen: 
posterolateral angles 
Antenna: 
protopod 
proto pod 
Present study 
Micippa platipes 
prominent 
equal to exopod 
2-segmented 
Kurata, 1969 (Fig.24 c,d) 
Micippa thalia 
not prominent 
longer to exopod 
unsegmented 
The present study on M. platipes tl;tough incomplete, is hoped to be useful in sorting 
the taxonomic status of the two species M. platipes and M. philyra which have been 
often confused and cited under various names (Buitendijk, 1939). Tirmizi and Kazrni, 
1988: 185 mentioned that ..... the specimen at hand are closeto M. platipes, as such they 
are doubtfully referred toM. platipes. 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 
I am very much thankful to Professor Dr. N.M. Tirmizi, Director, Marine Reference 
Collection and ·Resource Centre, University of Karachi for providing research facilities. 
Fina~cial assistance through Office of Naval Research (USA) under the project 
"Research on Marine Organisms of the Arabian Sea", No.00014-86-0229 is gratefully 
acknowledged. 
REFERENCES 
Buitendijk, A.M., 1939. Biological results of the Snellius Expedition V. The Dromiacea Oxystomata and 
Oxyrhyncha of the Snellius Expedition. Temminckia 4, Leiden: 223-276, 27 figs. 7-11 pls. • 
Griffin, D.J.G. and H.A. Tranter, 1986·. The Decapoda Brachyura of the Siboga Expedition. Part VIII, Majidae 
Siboga-Expedite. Mon.XXXIX, C4: 1-355, 112 figs, 22 pls. 
Kurata, H., 1969. Larvae· ofDecapoda Brachyura of Arasaki Sagami Bay, IV Majidae. Bulletin of the Tokai 
Regional Fisheries Research Laboratory No.57: 81-127, figs. 1-27. 
Tirmizi, N.M. and Q.B. Kazmi, 1988. Marine Fauna ofPakistan: 4 Crustacea: Brachyura (Dromiacea, 
Archaeobrachyura, Oxystomata, Oxyrhyncha). Publication 1. BCCI Foundation Chair, Institute of Marine 
Sciences, University of Karachi. Pp.243. 
(Received:21 November 1995) 


Larval development of Micippa platipes Ruppell, 1930, reared under laboratory conditions (Crustacea, Decapoda, Majidae)

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Larval development of Micippa platipes Ruppell, 1930, reared under laboratory conditions (Crustacea, Decapoda, Majidae)

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