The first phyllosoma stage of Palinurus mauritanicus (Crustacea: Decapoda: Palinuridae)

The external morphology of the first phyllosoma larva of the spiny lobster Palinurus mauritanicus is described based on hatched larvae, and compared with those described in other Palinurids. This constitutes the first scanning electron microscopy description of a phyllosoma of the genus Palinurus and the first complete description of a phyllosoma stage of P. mauritanicus. The first phyllosoma larva of P. mauritanicus hatches in a very advanced stage, compared to other palinurid genera, which would allow it to stay in the plankton for a shorter period of time. We cannot point out any major morphological differences from the congeneric species Palinurus elephas, co-occurring in most of its distribution area. The first phyllosoma larva of P. mauritanicus can be differentiated from those described for the genus Panulirus as well as from those of Scyllarus and Scyllarides widely co-occurring in the distribution area of P. mauritanicus, by the pereiopods 4 and 5 being already present as small buds and by the long, non-setose exopod on pereiopod 3. The morphology and differential position of the chromatophores of the living animal are also described