A key for the identification of the known larval stages of the Mediterranean Brachyura

Summary

Based on the accounts by various authors, an identification key has been constructed for the planktonic zoeae of the 70 species of Mediterranean Brachyura whose larvae are known. The key is based on primary (spines of the carapace, exopodite of the antenna, spines of telson forks) as well as secondary (setation of mouthparts, processes and spines on abdominal somites) morphological characteristics. It allows the identification of the zoeae of 64 species plus those of Liocarcinus genus (six species).