Morphological changes in external and internal feeding structures during the transition phyllosoma‐puerulus‐juvenile in the Western Rock Lobster ( Panulirus cygnus , Decapoda: Palinuridae)

External and internal feeding structures of the pelagic final phyllosoma, the transitional puerulus, and the benthic juvenile Western Rock Lobster, Panulirus cygnus , were studied by means of scanning electron microscopy. The study revealed that the external feeding structures of phyllosomata are well equipped for capture and mastication of food. The foregut, however, is not clearly divided into pyloric and cardiac regions and a gastric mill is absent, although a comb row and gland filter are present. Juveniles, on the other hand, have a well‐developed gastric mill and gastric teeth, and a cardiopyloric valve separates the foregut into cardiac and pyloric regions. External mouthparts of juveniles are suitable for mastication of solid food particles and bear numerous setae. In contrast, external mouthparts of pueruli are largely non‐setose. Furthermore, although the foregut is differentiated into pyloric and gastric regions and a gland filter and comb row are present, a functional gastric mill is absent during the puerulus stage. Absence of such structures indicates that the puerulus may be a non‐feeding stage. It is postulated that absence of (or reduced) feeding may be a response to an increased risk of predation rather than a result of the considerable morphological changes taking place during the transition from a planktonic to a benthic lifestyle, as has been previously proposed. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.