The Complete Larval Development of the Sponge Crab Dromia Erythropus (George Edwards, 1771) (Brachyura: Dromiidae) from the Archipielago De Los Roques, Venezuela

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Abstract
The complete larval development of the sponge crab D. erythropus collected in a shallow coral-sandy bottom off Dos Mosquises Island of the Archipielago de Los Roques. Venezuela, is described. Five zoeal stages and a megalopa were obtained from laboratory rearing at temperatures of 27.2-28.6.degree. C and salinities of 35-37.permill.. Development to the 1st crab stage took 28-30 days. A comparison of zoeal stages and megalopae among other dromiid species revealed species-specific characters for D. erythropus and possible generic characters for Dromia. Species-specific diagnostic characters between D. erythropus and D. personata lie in the number of setae on the exopodites of the maxillipeds and the strikingly different morphological appearance of the megalopa. The key diagnostic generic character for larvae of Dromia appears to be the presence of posterolateral spines.

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