Biological Information on Harpiosquilla raphidea (Fabricius 1798) (Stomatopoda, Crustacea) with a highlight to reproductive aspects

Abstract

We conducted study on biology of mantis shrimp Harpiosquilla raphidea collected from a mudflat in the mouth of Tungkal River, Province Jambi. Some biological information is described such as sex ratio, size frequency distribution of the population, and gonad maturity stage of females. Gonad development was also observed in laboratory. The results showed that for the entire population, the sex ratio was female biased. Three stages of gonad maturity occurred in the population indicating continual breeding. Based on the laboratory observation, the shrimp collected from the field started to develop gonad within two weeks.