Zoeal stages and megalopa of Leucippa pentagona H. Milne Edwards, 1833 (Decapoda: Brachyura: Majoidea: Epialtidae) obtained from laboratory culture and a comparison with other epialtid and majoid larvae

Abstract

Summary Leucippa pentagona H. Milne Edwards, 1833 is a small epialtid majoid crab occurring on sandy or muddy bottoms in shallow waters of the eastern Pacific and southwest Atlantic. Larvae of this monotypic genus obtained from Brazilian waters are described and illustrated for the first time. Larval development consists of two zoeal stages and a megalopa. The duration of the zoeal stages at 24°±1°C was 5–9 (6.4±0.5) and 5–7 (3.5±0.5) days for the first and second zoea, respectively, the megalopa phase appearing 10–13 (11±1) days after hatching. Larvae of L. pentagona are compared to those of other known epialtid larvae in particular and other majoids in general. The zoeal stages are characterized by a relatively long unarmed dorsal spine and a very small rostral spine that set them apart from other epialtid zoeae. Characteristic features of the megalopa include the absence of spines on the carapace and pereiopods and the presence of four plumose setae on the first abdominal somite.