FIRST ATTEMPT OF INTERSPECIFIC HYBRIDIZATION BETWEEN THE SHRIMPS PENAEUS-KERATHURUS FORSKAL, 1775 AND PENAEUS-JAPONICUS BATE, 1888

This paper reports preliminary studies designed to evaluate hybridizat ion through natural mating and artificial insemination between female Penaeus japonicus Bate, 1888 and male Penaeus kerathurus Forskal, 1775 . Although both species were able to mature in captivity, natural copu lation was not achieved. Different techniques, including manual squeez ing in the base of the fifth pair of pereiopods, electrical stimulatio n and dissection, were used for the artificial insemination experiment s. However, only dissection gave spermatophores, Stained sperm showed no malformations and its viability was very high, Seven out of 10 inse minations (70%) produced eggs, but the development of embryos was abno rmal. It is suggested that the high genetic distance between these spe cies is responsible for these results.