Abstract
Samples taken during the R/V Mt Mitchell open sea cruise from 22 April to 3 May 1992 from the western coast of Gulf were analysed for the occurrence and distribution of decapod larvae. Four major groups were identified: Penaeidea, Caridea, Anomura and Brachyura. Penaeidea constituted 4.5% of the total decapod larvae records and consisted of two families, Sergestidae and Penaeidae. Of the former only one genus was found in the region, while the latter family was represented mainly as larvae in their protozoea and mysis stages. Caridea larvae constituted 23% of the total larval records. Plankton larvae of this group comprised five families and three genera. Anomura larvae constituted 9.2% of the total decapod larvae recorded and occupied the third positions in order of abundance. Anomura were represented in the plankton samples by five families of which five genera were identified, and one of them was identified to species level. Planktonic larvae of Brachyura dominated the populations of decapod larvae in the study area, constituting on average 63.3%. Only four families belonging to this group were identified in the present collection. The spatial distribution and the population density of the planktonic Decapoda recorded at each station was studied.