Larval development of a semi terrestrial mangrove sesarmine crab Chasmagnathus convexus (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Grapsidae) reared in laboratory

Four zoeal stages and one megalopal stage were identified in laboratory reared semiterrestrial mangrove sesarmine crab Chasmagnathus convexus. At an average salinity and temperature of 20±1% and 19.2±0.2°C, the megalopa was attained 24 days after hatching. Morphologically, the first zoae of C. convexz1s is very similar to those of other species of the genus Chasmagnathus as well as species of the genus Helice, in that view all share the following characteristics: lateral spine on the carapace, three pairs of setae on the posterior margin of the telson furca, one plus five setae on the endopod of the maxillule, and two plus two setae on the endopod of the maxilla. The differences between the first zoea and megalopa of and those of its congeners are discussed.