Zoeal Stages of Leptomithrax edwardsii (Crustacea: Decapoda: Majidae) Described from Laboratory Reared Material

Abstract

Zoeas of Leptomithrax edwardsii were reared in the laboratory. Two zoeal stages are described and illustrated. The first zoeal stage of L. edwardsii is compared with those of seven known species of the family Majidae. It differs from previous description in the endopodal setation characters of the maxillule and the second maxilliped. It appears most similar to L. bifidus and Schizophroida simodaensis of the northwestern Pacific. A provisional key for identifying eight majid zoeas is included.

Keywords

• Majidae
• spider crab
• Leptomithrax edwardsii
• zoea
• L. bifidus
• Schizophroida simodaensis
• key
• northwestern Pacific