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Larval development of the Caribbean king crab Maguimithrax spinosissimus (Lamarck, 1818), the largest brachyuran in the western Atlantic (Crustacea: Decapoda: Majoidea)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 July 2021

Tassia Turini Open the ORCID record for Tassia Turini [Opens in a new window] ,
Jéssica Colavite Open the ORCID record for Jéssica Colavite [Opens in a new window] ,
Juan A. Bolaños ,
Jesús Enrique Hernández Open the ORCID record for Jesús Enrique Hernández [Opens in a new window] ,
Juan Antonio Baeza Open the ORCID record for Juan Antonio Baeza [Opens in a new window]  and
William Santana Open the ORCID record for William Santana [Opens in a new window]
Tassia Turini
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Systematic Zoology, Universidade Estadual Paulista ‘Júlio de Mesquita Filho’, 18618-970, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
Jéssica Colavite
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Systematic Zoology, Universidade Estadual Paulista ‘Júlio de Mesquita Filho’, 18618-970, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
Juan A. Bolaños
Affiliation:
Grupo de Investigación en Carcinología, Universidad de Oriente, Núcleo Nueva Esparta, Escuela de Ciencias Aplicadas del Mar, Boca del Río, Isla de Margarita, Venezuela
Jesús Enrique Hernández
Affiliation:
Grupo de Investigación en Carcinología, Universidad de Oriente, Núcleo Nueva Esparta, Escuela de Ciencias Aplicadas del Mar, Boca del Río, Isla de Margarita, Venezuela
Juan Antonio Baeza
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, 132 Long Hall, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA Universidad Catolica del Norte, Departamento de Biologia Marina, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce, 701 Seaway Drive, Fort Pierce, FL 34949, USA
William Santana*
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Systematic Zoology, Universidade Estadual Paulista ‘Júlio de Mesquita Filho’, 18618-970, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil Laboratório de Crustáceos do Semiárido, Universidade Regional do Cariri, Crato, Ceará, Brazil
*
Author for correspondence: William Santana, E-mail: willsantana@gmail.com
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Abstract

The complete larval development of the spider crab Maguimithrax spinosissimus (Lamarck, 1818) is re-described and illustrated in detail from laboratory-reared material. The development consisted of the typical pattern reported for the Majoidea, two zoeal stages and one megalopa. The complete larval development from hatching to first crab lasted 5–6 days at temperatures that ranged between 24–28 °C. Both zoeal stages of M. spinosissimus exhibited moderate reduction in the number of setae in the maxilla and maxillipeds, from the first to the second zoeal stage, when compared with other closely related species. Maguimithrax spinosissimus can be easily distinguished from other species belonging to the closely related genus Mithrax by the (i) setation of the endopod of the maxillule, maxilla and second maxilliped in both zoeal stages; (ii) setation of the scaphognathite of the maxilla in the first zoeal stage; (iii) setation of the basis of maxilliped I in the second zoeal stage and megalopa; (iv) morphology of the antennule and antenna in the second zoeal stage; and (v) setation of the antennule, coxal endite of maxilla, and exopod of second maxilliped in the megalopa. All these characters support the recent generic status of Maguimithrax within the Mithracidae. Additional morphological details, not available previously, are provided. This study will provide support for conservation strategies in this species.

Keywords

Larval morphologylecithotrophyMajoideaontogeny
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 101 , Issue 3 , May 2021 , pp. 577 - 589
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom

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Footnotes

*

In memoriam.

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