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Type: Articles
Published: 2012-11-06
Page range: 59–64
Abstract views: 34
PDF downloaded: 2

Morphology of the second zoeal stage of Grapsus adscensionis (Osbeck, 1765) (Crustacea, Decapoda, Grapsoidea) confirms larval characters of the family Grapsidae

Departamento de Biología Animal, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de La Laguna, Campus Anchieta, 38206 La Laguna, Spain
Instituto de Ciencias Marinas de Andalucía, CSIC. Avenida República Saharaui, 2, 11519 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
Crustacea Grapsidae larval development Grapsus adscensionis zoea megalopa

Abstract

The morphology of the second zoeal stage of Grapsus adscensionis, hatched from ovigerous specimens collected in the supralittoral zone of Taliarte Harbour, Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, NE Atlantic), is described and illustrated in detail for the first time. The comparison of its larval morphology with those of other species of Grapsidae provides information for the characterization of the zoeal morphology of grapsids, with implications in the phylogenetic relationships within the family, as well as an aid in identification of plankton samples.

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