EFFECT OF SALINITY ON THE LARVAE OF AN EDIBLE ESTUARINE CRAB THALAMITA-CRENATA (CRUSTACEA, DECAPODA, PORTUNIDAE)

Tolerance of the larvae of Thalamita crenata to salinity stress was st udied in the laboratory at different salinities ranging from 5 to 40 x 10(-3). Complete larval development from hatching through metamorphos is to first crab instar occurred only in salinities from 20 to 35 x 10 (-3). Though 3% of the larvae at 40 x 10(-3) were able to moult up to zoea V instar, they did not successfully moult to megalopa stage. The total duration for the successful completion of larval development was 34.63, 26.66, 25.31 and 31.75 days respectively in the salinities of 20, 25, 30 and 35 x 10(-3). There was a variation in the development r ate of larvae at different salinities, i.e. 0.029, 0.038, 0.40 and 0.0 31% respectively in the salinities of 20, 25, 30 and 35 x 10(-3). The salinity tolerance was ranged from 20 to 35 x 10(-3) and optimum salin ity was found to be 30 x 10(-3).