Spatial-Temporal Distribution of the Palinurid and ScyllaridPhyllosoma Larvae in Oman Coastal Waters

The Bongo Net samples collected between 2005 and 2008 in the Sea of Oman and in the north-western part of the ArabianSea (near Massirah Island) were analyzed, for a pilot assessment of seasonal and spatial distribution of the phyllosoma larvae. In the samplescollected, 84% of all phyllosoma larvae were from the family Palinuridae, while the others were contributed by family Scyllaridae. Alllarvae of Panulirus homarus were in the first development stage and had a mean body length of 1.30±0.89mm. The phyllosoma larvae ofthe less abundant family Scyllaridae were in the second, third, and fourth development stages, which had a mean length of 2.3mm, 3.3mmand 4.63mm, respectively. In terms of seasonal changes, the phyllosoma larvae tend to appear in Omani waters in February, reaching theirmaximum numbers in April. The abundance of phyllosoma P. homarus was as much as twofold higher in the Arabian Sea compared to theSea of Oman.