Petrolisthes zacae Haig, 1968 (Crustacea, Decapoda, Porcellanidae): The Development of Larvae in the Laboratory

Abstract

The larval development of Petrolisthes zacae Haig, 1968, an eastern Pacific species of porcellanid crab that inhabits mangrove forests, is completely described and illustrated. Development consists of a prezoeal stage, two zoeal stages, and a megalopal stage. The zoeae and megalopae of P. zacae are quite similar to those of P. armatus but can be distinguished from the latter by several morphological features. The larvae of P. zacae are compared to those of both Atlantic and Pacific P. armatus, wherein the close relationship exhibited by the larvae of all three forms reaffirms that already noted for adults of the two species.