The biology of the common prawn,Leander serratusPennant

Abstract

This work was undertaken at the suggestion of Mr F. S. Russell that little was known about the natural history of even so familiar a species asLeander serratus, the common prawn of the English Channel, which may at times form a valuable natural resource to the inshore fishermen. Attention was therefore chiefly concentrated on its growth rate and breeding biology. In spite of the long breeding season the statistical method of studying growth was adopted when preliminary results appeared successful. By this method additional data could be obtained on distribution and migration. In the closely related genusCrangon, growth has been shown to be retarded under laboratory conditions (Nouvel & van Rysselberge, 1937), so that an experimental study could not be relied on to give a picture of the normal life history. Höglund's recent monograph (1943) has treatedLeander squillain great detail. However, this species differs considerably in size and distribution fromL. serratus, and it was felt that a similar study in the Plymouth area would not be mere repetition; in fact the biology ofL. squillaitself differs somewhat in the two districts.