Life history studies on New Zealand Brachyura

Abstract

Abstract Pre‐zoea and first stage zoea larvae of the New Zealand majid crabs Eurynolambrus australis H. Milne Edwards & Lucas, Notomithrax peronii (H. Milne Edwards), N. ursus (Herbst), N. minor (Filhol), Leptomithrax longipes (Thomson), Jacquinotia edwardsii (Jacquinot) Leptomithrax longimanus Miers, and Pyromaia tuberculata (Lock‐ington) are described. Second staje (final) zoea larvae are described for all but the 2 last‐named species, and the megalopa larvae of E. australis, N. peronii, N. ursus , and N. minor are each recorded in detail. All larvae are illustrated, and characters distinguishing each species are tabulated. The evidence from larval characters supports the inclusion of E. australis in the ::amily Majidae (rather than Parthenopidae) and suggests that the species is more appropriately placed in the subfamily Majinae rather than in the Pisinae to which it has been recently assigned. Zoea larval characters also cast some doubt on the present congeneric status of L. longimanus and L. longipes .