SEM STUDY OF THE EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF THE MANDIBLE OF ARTEMIA URMIANA AND A-PARTHENOGENETICA (BRANCHIOPODA, ANOSTRACA)

The development of the molar surface in post-embryonic stages of Artemia urmiana and A. parthenogenetica was studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Cysts of both species have been collected from Urmia Lake, Iran, and its adjacent lagoons and were hatched and raised under laboratory conditions. The cuticular teeth on the molar surface appeared in stage L9 in A. urmiana but at L3 in A. parthenogenetica. While the appearance and development of the molar surface of those species were different during metanaupliar and post-metanaupliar stages, the morphology was similar in post-larval stages. Thus, these species can be distinguished based on the morphology of the molar surface and by the appearance of adult characteristics, all readily apparent in early phases of their respective life cycles.