Larval Development of the Spiny Sand Crab Lophomastix japonica (Durufle, 1889) (Crustacea, Anomura, Albuneidae) under Laboratory Conditions

Abstract

The complete larval development of Lophomastixjaponica (Durufle, 1889), a spiny sand crab from Hokkaido, northern Japan, is described and illustrated on the basis oflaboratory-reared material. The present species passes through three zoeal and one megalopal stages; zoeas moulted to megalopa 30-35 days after hatching, at water temperature of l8°C and salinity of 30 ppt. The carapace of the megalopa exhibits diagnostic features which allow distinction among Japanese albuneid genera. Zoeal characters of L. japonica are compared with those of other albuneid species. Morphological remarks on albuneid megalopas are also given.