Accurate information on commercial marine species larvae is key to fisheries science, as their correct identification is the first step towards studying the species’ connectivity patterns. In this study, we provide a complete morphological description of the first protozoeal stage of the valued deep-sea blue and red shrimp Aristeus antennatus and of the small mesopelagic shrimp Gennadas elegans. These two larval morphologies previously posed a risk of misidentification, thus hindering the study of A. antennatus larval ecology and dynamics in the context of fisheries science. Using specimens caught in the plankton at various locations in the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea and identification confirmed by molecular methods, the larvae of A. antennatus and G. elegans are distinguished from each other by the ornamentation of the antennula. A possible confusion in previous descriptions of Aristeidae larvae is addressed and a new key for the identification of Dendrobranchiata larvae provided.

有关商业海洋物种幼虫的准确信息是渔业科学的关键，因为对它们的正确识别是研究该物种连通性模式的第一步。在这项研究中，我们提供了有价值的深海蓝色和红色虾阿里斯提斯触角藻和小型中生虾线虫Gennadas elegans原生动物第一阶段的完整形态学描述。这两个幼虫形态以前有被误认的风险，因此阻碍了在渔业科学背景下对触角拟南芥幼虫生态学和动力学的研究。利用在地中海西北部不同位置浮游生物中捕获的标本，并通过分子方法进行鉴定，触角触角和线虫通过触角的装饰彼此区别。解决了在以前的Aristeidae幼虫描述中可能出现的混淆，并提供了用于鉴定Dendrobranchiata幼虫的新钥匙。