Larval development of the crab Xantho poressa (Decapoda: Xanthidae) reared in the laboratory

Abstract

Larvae of Xantho poressa were reared in the laboratory from an ovigerous female collected in the Gulf of Cadiz, Spain. The larval series included 4 zoeal and 1 megalopal stage, typical of the vast majority of xanthid species in the subfamily Xanthinae. Duration of each zoeal stage ranged from 2-4 days, that of the megalopa averaged 10 days, and the first crab stage was reached after 23 days. Zoeae are extremely similar to those of X. incisus, whereas the megalopa displays more noticeable differences. Zoeal characteristics conform to the Group I xanthid larvae as designated by Rice (1980) and Martin (1984); megalopal characteristics also are consistent with this grouping. Brief comparisons are made between our findings and those few reports of larvae of Xantho (notably that of Ingle, 1983, on X. incisus) from this and other regions.