What are the peculiar characteristics of zoea larvae?
The crab zoea has a slender, curved abdomen and a forked telson, but its most striking features are the long rostral and dorsal spines, sometimes augmented by further, lateral spines. These spines can be many times longer than the body of the larva.
What are the characteristics of larva?
A sexually immature organism that lives on its own, a larva seldom resembles its final adult form and usually has entirely different life habits. A larva, like a caterpillar, is sometimes thought to be a complete, separate, sexually mature organism that has a life of its own and produces more caterpillars.
What does ZOEA larva eventually?
Most decapods omit the nauplius stage and hatch as zoeae, which may be heavily ornamented with spines. The crab zoea eventually changes into a megalops, which resembles a small crab…
What is the role of the larvae?
A larva sometimes functions as a food gatherer—in many species the larval stage occurs at a time when food is abundant—and has a well-developed alimentary system. It stores food so that the transformation to the adult stage can occur. Some larvae function in both dispersion and nutrition.
What kind of appendages does a zoea larva have?
Zoea larvae swim using thoracic appendages, ( maxillipeds and pereopods ), which distinguishes them from both earlier and later stages of development. The nauplius larva uses cephalic appendages to swim (antennulae, antennae and mandibles), while the megalopa swims using abdominal appendages called pleopods.
What kind of environment does a Zoea live in?
Environment:The crabs zoea larvae are pelagic. Misc:When the eggs from many different specie hatch in the sea, the resulting larvaeseldom resemble their parents or live the same life style. Female crabs usually carry their eggs on the underside of their rearand when the eggs hatch, small zoea larvae appear.
What kind of body does a crab zoea have?
Compare with the size of a hair. Appearance:Crab zoea larvae have a strong and almost spherical carapace to which the legs it uses for swimming are attached. Legs are absent on the long and extended back. The often long and prominent rostrum always points downwards, but can on occasion also be absent.
What kind of carapace does a Zoea have?
Cephalothorax is covered by a carapace. Zoea is the common larva of decapods and hence it has variations in its features in different species. It has a large cephalothorax that is covered with a helmet-like carapace that also sports spines and it protruded into a rostrum in front.