Zoeal morphology of Pachygrapsus transversus (Gibbes) (Decapoda, Grapsidae) reared in the laboratory

Abstract

Ovigerous females of Pachygrapsus transversus (Gibbes, 1850) were collected on the Praia Dura and Saco da Ribeira beaches, Ubatuba, São Paulo, Brazil. Larvae were individually reared in a climatic room at 25ºC temperature, salinities of 28, 32 and 35‰ and under natural photoperiod conditions. The best rearing results were observed at 35%o salinity. Seven zoeal instars were observed, drawing and described in detail. The data are compared with those obtained for P. gracilis (Saussure, 1858).