Nauplius (larva) - Citizendia

The nauplius larva of a prawn

A nauplius (plural nauplii) is the first larva of animals classified as crustaceans (subphylum of Arthropoda). Prawns are Crustaceans belonging to the sub-order Dendrobranchiata A larva ( Latin; plural larvae) is a juvenile form of Animal with indirect development, undergoing Metamorphosis (for example Structure of crustaceans As Arthropods crustaceans have a stiff Exoskeleton, which must be shed to allow the animal to grow ( Ecdysis or molting Arthropods are Animals belonging to the Phylum Arthropoda (from Greek ἄρθρον arthron, " Joint " It consists of a head and a telson; the thorax and abdomen, characteristic of adult crustaceans, have not developed yet. The telson is the last division of the body of a Crustacean. It is not considered a true segment because it does not arise in the embryo from teloblast areas The thorax is a division of an Animal 's body that lies between the head and the Abdomen. In Vertebrates such as Mammals the abdomen (belly constitutes the part of the body between the Thorax (chest and Pelvis. A prominent characteristic of nauplii is that they have only one compound eye, which will divide in two in later stages. Nauplii have three pairs of cephalic appendages with which they swim; in the adult these become the antennules, the antennae, and the mandibles. An appendage in the broadest sense is an additional or subsidiary part existing on or added to something which can generally still function if the appendage has never existed or Antennae (singular antenna) are paired Appendages connected to the front-most segments of Arthropods In Crustaceans they are Antennae (singular antenna) are paired Appendages connected to the front-most segments of Arthropods In Crustaceans they are The mandible (from Latin mandibula, "jawbone" or inferior maxillary bone forms the lower Jaw and holds the lower teeth in place The name nauplii properly refers to crustacean larvae that use appendages that stem from the head (antennules and antennae) as their mains means of swimming.

The naupliar stage is the defining link among crustaceans, as they all pass through this larval stage. Structure of crustaceans As Arthropods crustaceans have a stiff Exoskeleton, which must be shed to allow the animal to grow ( Ecdysis or molting Some are nauplii as part of their embryonic development (as is the case for the American lobster), or as the first swimming larvae that hatches out of the egg (as in the case for most common shrimp). The American lobster, Homarus americanus, is one Species of Lobster found on the Atlantic coast of North America. True shrimp are swimming decapod Crustaceans classified in the Infraorder Caridea, found widely around the world in both fresh Nauplii larvae do not feed, but utilize their internal yolk reserves from the egg for energy. Nauplii of marine crustaceans are important components of zooplankton, providing food for many marine organisms. Zooplankton are the Heterotrophic (sometimes detritivorous) type of Plankton.

See also