Records and life history of Praunus flexuosus (Crustacea: Mysidacea) in Icelandic waters

• Published in: Journal of Plankton Research
• Main Author: Astthorsson, Olafur S.
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford University Press 1987
• Subjects: Articles; Iceland
• Online Access: http://plankt.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/9/5/955; https://doi.org/10.1093/plankt/9.5.955

Since its fust record in Icelandic waters in 1970, Praunus flexuosus has been found to be very common in the littoral zone of the Atlantic water at the south-west coast of Iceland. It seems possible that P. flexuosus has only recently been introduced into Icelandic waters. The life history of P. flexuosus has been followed in Skerjafjord, near Reykjavik, in 1985–1986. The animals have a one-year life span. The females, some of which appear to produce three broods, breed mainly during June–August. Breeding females ranged in length from 18.7 to 25.7 mm and the largest brood was 72 eggs. The incubation time at c. 11°C was estimated to be ∼25 days. The daily growth rate of juveniles was estimated to be 0.16 mm in July–August and 0.05–0.07 mm in September–October. No growth occurred during the winter months of October–March.