Metanephrops japonicus

Japanese Lobster ( Metanephrops japonicus )

The Japanese lobster ( Metanephrops japonicus ) is a species of decapods from the family of lobster -like ( Nephropidae ). It is native to the Pacific coast of Japan and the seafood part of Japanese cuisine.

Features

Japanese lobsters reach body lengths from 9 to 12 cm, the length of the carapace 3-7 cm is sufficient. Maximum possible seems a body length of up to 20 cm. Its coloration is entirely orange-red. Albinism was observed. The two pairs of antennae are clearly red, the scissor tips and burrs on the walking legs are white.

The pointed rostrum extends far beyond the eyes as well as the bases of the antennae ( antennal peduncle ) and has up to six asymmetrical, pointed teeth. The carapace has respectively on the flanks of a prominent spine ( upper hepatic spine ). The claws of the first pair of walking legs are usually unequal. They have a long - slender form and are closely serrated with large spines.

Charakterisches feature of the Japanese lobster are the dorsal side of the abdomen conspicuous ridges and a curved horn ( supraorbital horn ) on the rostrum. In general, the structure of the carapace and abdomen in comparison to other species of the genus is strong. The Japanese lobster is easy to confuse with sagamiensis Metanephrops.

The eggs have a greenish- blue color and will hatch out white. Japanese lobster hatch as Präzoea larva and have a carapace length of about 3 mm and a total body length of 9 mm. Carapace, rostrum and abdomen are smooth and it still lacks the characteristic thorns or burrs. Allen Exopoditen the walking legs lack the setae. A zoea larval stage is absent, after a molt are Japanese lobster us to address as a post- larva or megalopa.

Under laboratory conditions, a molting process takes 23 minutes, with the increase in length of the carapace is 12.8 %.

Dissemination and use

Japanese lobsters are endemic to the Pacific coast of Japan. The range extends from Choshi to the island of Kyushu, where the species lives at depths of 200 m to 440 m. It is part of the benthos and mainly found on muddy sea floor.

The Japanese lobster is fished throughout its distribution area with trawlers, since it is valued as a delicacy. Despite these Terms and a regional decline in catches, a hazard is not known due to lack of available data. Aquaculture are not used, a rearing of larvae and their exposure is the subject of research.

Taxonomy

The Japanese lobster by Cesare Maria Tapparone - Canefri was first described in 1873 as Nephrops japonicus. The Japanese lobster is type species of the genus Metanephrops.

Swell

• Lipke B. Holthuis, Food and Agriculture Organization (ed. ): Marine Lobsters of the World. An Annotated and Illustrated Catalogue of Species of Interest to Fisheries Known to Date ( = FAO Fisheries Synopsis. 125). Rome, 1991, ISBN 978-92-5-103027-1.
• T.-Y. Chan, H.-P. Yu: Studies on the Metanephrops japonicus group ( Decapoda, Nephropidae ), with descriptions of two new species. In: Crustaceana. 60, 1991, pp. 18-51 (PDF, 43MB, accessed 9 May 2012 ).
• CM Tapparone - Canefri: Intorno ad una nuova specie di genere di Nephrops crostacei Decapodi Macruri. In: Memorie R. Accademia Scienze Torino. (2 ) 27, 1873, pp. 325-329.