An unusual abbreviated larval life in the estuarine burrowing prawn Callianassa kraussi (Crustacea: Decapoda: Thalassinidea)

The larval stages of Callianassa kraussi Stebb. were previously unknown. Larvae were bred out in the laboratory and found to be incapable of swimming. There are two larval stages, lasting 3 to 5 days in sea water of 34 to 35‰ S at 20 °C. Observations under simulated field conditions in the laboratory, and in the field-where burrow casts were made using a polyester resin, indicated that the larvae metamorphose to the first post-larval stage in the parent burrow, and then burrow directly into the wall of the parent burrow. © 1973 Springer-Verlag.