LARVAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE SAND CRAB EMERITA TALPOIDA (SAY) IN THE LABORATORY

¹ Duke University Marine Laboratory, Beaufort, N. C.

1. Emerita talpoida were reared in the laboratory from eggs to the megalops. Of individuals hatched in the laboratory 15 per cent survived to the megalops.

2. The average length of time required to pass through the pelagic larval stages in the laboratory was 28 days. A table is given which shows the average duration of each of the zoeal stages.

3. Six zoeal stages and a megalops are figured and described. A seventh zoeal stage, which was skipped by most of the larvae, is described.

4. Larvae reared in the laboratory are compared with three zoea stages described from the plankton by Smith.

5. The larval development of Emerita talpoida should not be regarded as consisting of a fixed number of stages determined by a fixed number of larval intermolts.