Broodstock development and captive breeding of sand lobster Thenus orientalis lund, 1793- Winter School on Recent Advances in Breeding and Larviculture of Marine Finfish and Shellfish

Lobsters are among the largest marine arthropods, with a long life span. They are slow growing animals with a complicated and prolonged life cycle, which greatly increases the risk of stock depletion through indiscriminate fishing. Sand lobsters are known to inhabit the open unconsolidated sediments between the coast and adjacent reefs and further beyond. These animals prefer soft, muddy beds. They are nocturnal feeders, with specific predatory feeding habits. Unlike the spiny lobsters, they swim actively and cover large distances while foraging for food. Gross morphological modifications including dorsoventral compression of the body, lateral expansion of carapace and extreme reduction of antennae and body spines have resulted in a well streamlined, energy-efficient swimming shape. An insight into the reproductive biology of an animal is a preliminary requisite for broodstock development and breeding in captivity. The intricate processes underlying the actual phenomenon of propagation of a species usually begin at the formative phase of the individual. They however manifest as visible changes at a later phase of growth, commonly acknowledged as the “adult” or “sexually mature” phase. These processes include a number of anatomical, physiological, morphological and behavioral changes