Morphology of the first zoeal stages of five species of the portunid genus Callinectes (Decapoda, Brachyura) hatched at the laboratory

Abstract

The genus Callinectes Stimpson, 1860 currently consists of 16 species, six of which are reported in Brazilian coast. In the present study, the first zoeal stages of Callinectes bocourti, C. danae, C. exasperatus, C. ornatus and C. sapidus from Brazil were obtained from ovigerous females. The morphological and meristic characters of all these larval stages are described and illustrated. Those of C. bocourti, C. danae and C. sapidus are redescribed and compared with the previous descriptions, and differences are listed. Larval characters of these species were examined for interspecific differences, as well as larval features to distinguish the genus Callinectes within Portunidae. In addition, other portunid genera and species with a known first zoeal stage are compared, with special attention to those species present in the same geographical area. Our findings concord with some previous molecular studies, and we discuss the complexity within the group.

Larval dispersal of Brachyura in the largest estuarine / marine system in the world

“…The little morphological differentiation among the genera added to scarce complete larval descriptions does not allow the precise identification at the species level for the zoea or megalopa stages [58,[133][134][135]. Because this family larval development is difficult to obtain in the laboratory, few complete descriptions are available in the literature, and most species have either only ZI or no stage described [136,137]. However, this problem can be solved in the future by using DNA barcoding analysis to identify larvae originating from the natural environment.…”

Genomic Analyses Implicate the Amazon–Orinoco Plume as the Driver of Cryptic Speciation in a Swimming Crab

“…The species is widespread along the western Atlantic, occurring in coastal waters (up to 75 m depth) from south Brazil to North Carolina, USA [ 35 , 36 ]. Despite nine larval stages and a PLD of 50 days [ 37 , 38 , 39 ], the species shows a strong genetic structure, composed of two separated groups: one north and one south of the AOP [ 25 ]. Unlike many species for which physiological data are not available, there is evidence showing that C. ornatus is sensitive to salinity changes [ 40 ].…”