Notes and Bibliography on the Larvae of Xanthid Crabs

Abstract

Decapod systematics have rarely attempted to draw supporting evidence from the larval phase (Gurney, 1942, p. 12). However, It is generally recognized that phylogenetic conclusions drawn from larval stages alone without reference to adult systematics can be very misleading, but the two approaches considered together can be of value. This is especially so in the decapod Crustacea, both in the separation of closely allied species and in the assessment of relationships at all levels. Nevertheless, there are several exceptions to this generalization , more especially in the Caridea where some closely related genera possess widely differing larvae (Gurney, 1942, p. 15) .