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Larval development and first crab of Mithraculus sculptus (Decapoda: Brachyura: Majoidea: Mithracidae) described from laboratory-reared material

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 August 2006

Andrew L. Rhyne
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology, 150 West University Boulevard, Melbourne, FL 32901, USA. Vero Beach Marine Laboratory, Florida Institute of Technology, 805 46th Place East, Vero Beach, FL 32963, USA
Yoshihisa Fujita
Affiliation:
University Education Center, University of the Ryukyus, 1 Senbaru, Nishihara-cho, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan
Ricardo Calado
Affiliation:
CCMAR, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8000-117 Faro, Portugal Templo Aquático, Rua de Santa Marta 27K, 1150-291 Lisboa, Portugal

Abstract

The present work describes the complete larval development of Mithraculus sculptus (two zoeal stages, the megalopa) and the first crab instar from laboratory cultured material. The larval morphology is compared with other descriptions currently available for the MithraxMithraculus complex: Mithraculus coryphe, M. forceps, Mithrax hispidus, M. pleuracanthus, M. spinosissimus and M. verrucosus. Although the different species of the MithraxMithraculus complex display uniform morphological characters, the first zoeal stage of M. sculptus differs from other species in the setal meristics of the carapace and the number of aesthetascs of the antennule. The second zoeal stage differs in the number of aesthetascs of the antennule and the number of setae in the distal margin of the coxal endite of the maxillule. The megalopa of M. sculptus can be distinguished by the presence of 3–4 aesthetascs and a simple seta in the distal segment of the antennule. The morphological differences between the larvae from the genus Mithrax and Mithraculus are insufficient to support the separation of the two genera using adult morphology. Future studies should address in detail setal meristics.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
2006 Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom

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