Embryo volume of S. apioceros increased considerably (77.2%) during the incubation
period. This is a common phenomenon in decapod species and is probably related
to water uptake over the course of embryogenesis (Lardies and Wehrtmann 1997, Petersen
and Anger 1997, Wehrtmann and Lardies 1999, Lara and Wehrtmann 2009),
as also observed incrementally in S. apioceros (Table 2). At the end of the incubation
period, the embryo starts to swell due to osmotic changes (Figueiredo et al. 2008),
while the embryo membrane shows a decrease in thickness with a concomitant increase
in elasticity, thus favoring the hatching process of the embryo (Davis 1981).