POSTLARVAL GROWTH IN JUVENILE RHITHROPANOPEUS HARRISH

Eyestalk removal accelerated the molt cycles of megalopal and juvenile (first through fifth crab instars) Rhithropanopeus harrisii. Eyestalkless crabs also demonstrated a greater increase in size at each ecdysis. The growth rate of eyestalkless crabs was approximately twice the rate measured in control crabs. Epidermal cell density measurements showed that the cell density was the same in intermolt fifth instar control and eyestalkless crabs. The results demonstrate that growth in juvenile crabs is under the influence of eyestalk neurosecretory centers and that growth is a result of epidermal cell proliferation and not cell enlargement.