Larval keys and diagnoses for the subfamily Palaemoninae (Crustacea: Decapoda: Palaemonidae) in the north-east Atlantic and aspects of functional morphology

Abstract

Illustrated keys are given for the identification of larval stages of five species of north-east Atlantic Palaemoninae: Palaemon adspersus, P. elegans, P. longirostris, P. serratus and Palaemonetes varians. Larval diagnoses for the subfamily and for early stages are also included. Recent developments in the functional morphology of larval palaemonids especially eyes, swimming and ontogenetic processes are reviewed.