Larval development of Calyptraeotheres garthi (Fenucci, 1975) (Brachyura, Pinnotheridae) described from laboratory-reared material, with notes of larval character use on Pinnotheridae systematic

Abstract

Calyptraeotheres garthi (Brachyura, Pinnotheridae) is a pinnotherid crab that lives in association with some species of Crepidula sp. (Calyptraeidae). The larvae of C. garthi were cultured under laboratory conditions (20C and 35 PSU). Larval development from hatchling to megalopa took 30 days. Five zoeal stages and the megalopa are described and fully illustrated. The genus Calyptraeotheres consists only of four species. Larval characters were compared with the previous description of larvae from the southeastern Pacific species C. politus and with Tumidotheres maculatus a closely related pinnotherid crab. In addition, in light of recent molecular phylogeny of the family Pinnotheridae, we present a discussion about the Calyptraeotheres and its close related genera.