Zoological Studies

Artificial Insemination and Early Embryonic Development of the Mangrove Crab Perisesarma bidens (De Haan) (Crustacea: Brachyura)

Md. Moniruzzaman Sarker, Md. Sirajul Islam, and Tsuyoshi Uehara (2009) The aim of this study was to explore a technique of artificial insemination and document the early embryonic development of the mangrove sesarmid crab Perisesarma bidens (De Haan).  Observations were made on fertilization of the eggs of this crab by artificial insemination up to hatching under laboratory conditions.  The female extruded the eggs into the abdominal cavity 24-48 h after copulation.  Unfertilized eggs were collected from the pleopods of the female immediately after laying and were stored in 80% filtered sea water (FSW).  Sperm were removed from the spermatheca of the same female and diluted in 80% FSW.  The unfertilized eggs and sperm were shaken well in a glass beaker for artificial insemination.  The eggs were rinsed 3-5 times with 80% FSW after 5 min of mixing of sperm with ova.  Eggs were incubated in 100 ml flat cylindrical culture bottles containing 70 ml of 80% FSW at 25°C in a water bath.  The fertilization membrane was observed 3-5 min after insemination.  The other 2 outerlayers of fertilized eggs were also observed 8-10 min after insemination.  The internal yolk of the egg is the major source of nutrition for developing embryos.  An average of 65% of fertilized eggs hatched as 1st zoeae after 17 d of incubation.  It is therefore feasible to produce embryos by artificial insemination during the peak breeding season from May to Sept.  This is the first report of early embryonicdevelopment from fertilization to larval hatching of P. bidens by artificial insemination.