Laboratory-reared larvae of Cancer anthonyi (Decapoda: Brachyura) with a brief description of the internal anatomy of the megalopa

Abstract

The larval development of Cancer anthonyi Rathbun (Decapoda, Brachyura) is described from laboratory rearing experiments. The external anatomy of the various larval stages is illustrated. A prezoeal stage, 5 zoeal stages and 1 megalopa stage were identified. At 17.5°C it took an average of 32.5 days for the first-stage zoeae to develop through the fifth zoeal stage and molt to the megalopa stage. The general internal anatomy of C. anthonyi larvae is discussed, and a drawing of a parasagittal section of a megalopa-stage larva is included.