Embryonic and larval development of Antigona lamellaris, and their ingestion and digestion of different microalgal species

This is the first detailed report of embryonic and larval development, larval morphological changes, movement, and feeding behavior of Antigona lamellaris, and to provide references for seed breeding. Nine microalgal species (Chlorella vulgaris, Nannochloropsis oculata, Dunaliella salina, Platymonas subcordiformis, Pavlova viridis, Dicrateria zhanjianggensis, Isochrysis galbana, Chaetoceros muelleri, and Phaeodactylum tricornutum) were tested for ingestion and digestion in A. lamellaris larvae using optical microscopy to choose an appropriate diet. Fertilized eggs of A. lamellaris hatched into D-larvae after 22 h and 10 min, the larvae began to ingest microalgae after 24 h and 30 min, and the larvae developed to metamorphosis stage at 8 days post hatch (dph). The growth model of shell length is decelerating positive growth, and the growth model of shell height is accelerating positive growth. As for the nine microalgal species fed, larvae could ingest C. vulgaris, N. oculata, D. salina, P. viridis, D. zhanjianggensis and I. galbana at 1 dph, P. subcordiformis and C. muelleri at 2 dph, and P. tricornutum could not be ingested during the planktonic period. It was difficult for the larvae to digest C. vulgaris and N. oculata. A. lamellaris newly hatched larvae are relatively large and have a short time in planktonic larval cultivation. There are a widely variety of microalgal species that can be used for feeding as the larval cultivation. A. lamellaris is a valuable species with huge aquaculture potential.