(Risso, 1816)

Description
Larval morphology changing with developmental stage; larval development encompasses nine megalopal (or alima) stages. A good description was not available from literature. Giesbrecht, 1910 provides an extended description and illustrations of the subsequent stages and a comparison with the similar stages of Platysquilla eusebia. The medio-ventra spine on the antennular segment is present from the first stage first onwards (TL 3.6-4.1 mm), whereas in P. eusebia this spine appears not until stage 3-4 (TL 3.6-3.9 mm). The ventero-distal spines on abdominal pleurae are present from stage 1 onwards; in P. eusebia these spines appear not until stage 8 (TL 13 mm).

Size
Total larval body length 3.6-22.5 mm.

Depth range/habitat
— Larvae: planktonic, shallow.
—Adult: benthic, subtidally to about 40 metres.

Distribution in the North Sea
In the North Sea, it is restricted to the southern part, entering the area from the Channel.

World distribution
Common in the Mediterranean but is not known from West Africa, although the adult is recorded on the Atlantic coast of Europe northwards to southern British waters.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Arthropoda
Subphylum Crustacea
Class Malacostraca
Subclass Eumalacostraca
Superorder Hoplocarida
Order Stomatopoda
Superfamily Squilloidea
Family Squillidae
Genus Rissoides
Species Rissoides desmaresti

Status in World Register of Marine Species

Accepted name: Rissoides desmaresti (Risso, 1816)

Scientific synonyms and common names

Squilla desmaresti | Risso, 1816
Meiosquilla desmaresti | Risso, 1816

Giesbrecht, W., 1910. Stomatopoden. Fauna und Flora des Golfes von Naepel, 33(1): 1-240.

Hamond, R., 1971. The leptocostracan, euphausiid, stomatopod, and decapod Crustacea of Norfolk. Transactions of the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists' Society, 22(2): 90-112.

Mauchline, J., 1984. Euphausiid, Stomatopod and Leptocostracan Crustaceans. Synopses of the British Fauna (New Series), No. 30.

van der Baan, S.M. and L. Holthuis, 1966. On the occurrence of Stomatopoda in the North Sea with special reference to the larvae from the surface plankton near the lightship 'Texel'. Netherlands Journal of Sea Research, 3(1): 1-12.

van der Baan, S.M. and L. Holthuis, 1969b. Second note on the occurrence of stomatopod larvae in the North Sea near the lightship "Texel". Netherlands Journal of Sea Research, 4(3): 350-353.

Verweij, J., 1966. The origin of the stomatopod larvae of the southern North Sea. Netherlands Journal of Sea Research, 3: 13-20.

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