Eurycarcinus natalensis ( Krauss, 1843 )

Clark, Paul F. & Paula, José, 2003, Descriptions Of Ten Xanthoidean (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura) First Stage Zoeas From Inhaca Island, Mozambique, Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 51 (2), pp. 323-378 : 352-361

Eurycarcinus natalensis ( Krauss, 1843)

( Figs. 29-32 )

Larval description. – Carapace ( Fig. 29a ): dorsal spine smooth, curved distally, approximately three times as long as rostral spine; rostral spine smooth, shorter than dorsal and antennal protopod; lateral spines short and unarmed; 1 pair of posterodorsal setae; ventral margin without setae, eyes sessile.

Antennule ( Fig. 29b ): uniramous, endopod absent; exopod unsegmented with, 2 broad and long, 2 shorter and slender aesthetascs plus 2 terminal setae of unequal length.

Antenna ( Fig. 29c ): protopod distally bilaterally spinulate, longer in length than rostral spine but equal in length to the exopod; endopod bud present; exopod equal to length of protopod, unsegmented, distally spinulate with 1 long and 1 smaller medial setae unequal in length.

Mandible: endopod palp absent.

Maxillule ( Fig. 30a ): epipod seta absent; coxal endite with 7 setae; basial endite with 5 terminal setal processes and 2 small teeth; endopod 2-segmented, proximal segment with 1 seta; distal segment with 6 (2 subterminal, 4 terminal) setae; exopod seta absent.

Maxilla ( Fig. 30b ): coxal endite bilobed with 6+4 setae; basial endite bilobed with 5+4 setae; endopod bilobed with 3+5 (2 subterminal, 3 terminal) setae; exopod (scaphognathite) margin with 4 setae and 1 long distal stout process.

First maxilliped ( Fig. 31a ): coxa without setae; basis with 10 setae arranged 2,2,3,3; endopod 5-segmented with 3,2,1,2,5 (1 subterminal, 4 terminal) setae respectively; exopod 2-segmented, distal segment with 4 long terminal plumose natatory setae.

Second maxilliped ( Fig. 31b ): coxa without setae; basis with 4 setae arranged 1,1,1,1; endopod 3-segmented, with 1,1,6 (3 subterminal, 3 terminal) setae respectively; exopod 2- segmented, distal segment with 4 long terminal plumose natatory setae.

Third maxilliped ( Fig. 32c ): present and biramous.

Pereiopods ( Fig. 32d ): present and chela bilobed.

Abdomen ( Figs. 32a, b ): 5 somites; somite 2 with a pair of dorsolateral processes directed anteriorly; somite 3 with a pair of dorsolateral processes directed ventrally; somites 1- 2 with rounded posterolateral processes and 3-5 with short posterolateral spinous processes; somite 1 without dorsal setae; somites 2-5 with 1 pair of posterodorsal setae; posterior margin of somites 2-5 spinulate; pleopod buds absent.

Telson ( Figs. 30c , 32a, b ): each telson fork long, spinulate and gradually curved distally; 1 long and 1 fine lateral spine; dorsal medial spine present; posterior margin with 3 pairs of stout spinulate setae.

Figures

Fig. 29. Eurycarcinus natalensis (Krauss, 1843) first stage zoea; a) anterior view of carapace; b) antennule; c) antenna.

Fig. 30. Eurycarcinus natalensis (Krauss, 1843) first stage zoea; a) maxillule; b) maxilla; c) telson.

Fig. 31. Eurycarcinus natalensis (Krauss, 1843) first stage zoea; a) first maxilliped; b) second maxilliped.

Fig. 32. Eurycarcinus natalensis (Krauss, 1843) first stage zoea; a) dorsal view of abdomen; b) lateral view of abdomen.