Larvae of decapod crustacea of the Philippines - I. The zoeal stages of a swimming crab, Charybdis cruciata (Herbst) reared in the laboratory

Abstract

Six zoeal stages of Charybdis cruciata (Herbst) which are reared in the laboratory, are described. The zoea has a rostral, a dorsal and a pair of laterial spines. There are a pair of lateral hooks on the 2nd and 3rd abdominal segments. The number of natatory hairs on the rirst and second maxillipeds increased by one pair at each molt, being 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14, in the 1st to 6th zoea, respectively. The number of inner setae on the telson are 3+3 in stage 1; 4+4 in stages 2 and 3, 4+1+4 in stage 4, and 5+5 in stages 5 and 6. Spinal arrangement form proximal to distal segment of the endopodite of the first maxillipeds are 2-2-0-2-5 in stages 1-3 and 2-2-1-2-6 in stages 4-6 and that of the second maxillipeds are 1-1-4 in stages 1 and 2 and 1-1-5 in stages 3-6.