![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0e28e_d8911d1779e64935b8abca6c05417f5a~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_291,h_153,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/b0e28e_d8911d1779e64935b8abca6c05417f5a~mv2.jpg)
Marine Invertebrate Larvae in Hong Kong Waters
The common name "crab" is in fact a general term that encompasses the true crabs (infraorder Brachyura) plus the Infraorder Anomura (the family Porcellanidae, or porcelain crabs, which is also included in this section).
Crabs may go through several larval stages, including 1-5 zoeal stages and usually one megalopa stage, before undergoing their final metamorphosis into a juvenile crab. Both true crabs and porcellanid crabs are therefore meroplankton, i.e. they are temporary plankton and spend only part of their life cycle in the plankton.
In this project, crab zoeae were initially sorted into distinguishable morphological types, or morphotypes. Owing to the paucity of crustacean larval identification keys for the region, some morphotypes could not be identified based on published literature alone and molecular techniques are being applied to determine their identification.
Crab Zoeae
![Porcellanidae (Family)](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0e28e_b444c12b0c63405dbdad8c7195590848~mv2_d_4500_2111_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_460,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/b0e28e_b444c12b0c63405dbdad8c7195590848~mv2_d_4500_2111_s_2.jpg)
Classification: Arthropoda (Phylum) > Crustacea (Subphylum) > Multicrustacea (Superclass) > Malacostraca (Class) > Eumalacostraca (Subclass) > Eucarida (Superorder) > Decapoda (Order) > Pleocymeta (Suborder) > Anomura (Infraorder) > Galatheoidea (Superfamily) > Porcellanidae (Family) Common name: Porcelain crab
![Menippidae (Family)](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0e28e_7cd627fec1924b6384822cda5b6b619d~mv2_d_2765_3264_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1157,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/b0e28e_7cd627fec1924b6384822cda5b6b619d~mv2_d_2765_3264_s_4_2.jpg)
Classification: Arthropoda (Phylum) > Crustacea (Subphylum) > Multicrustacea (Superclass) > Malacostraca (Class) > Eumalacostraca (Subclass) > Eucarida (Superorder) > Decapoda (Order) > Pleocyemata (Suborder) > Brachyura (Infraorder) > Eubrachyura (Section) > Heterotremata (Subsection) > Eriphioidea (Superfamily) > Menippidae (Family)
![Parasesarma pictum (Species)](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0e28e_66203c66c78e4ce988f60af7f82c801f~mv2_d_2385_3000_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1233,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/b0e28e_66203c66c78e4ce988f60af7f82c801f~mv2_d_2385_3000_s_2.jpg)
Classification: Arthropoda (Phylum) > Crustacea (Subphylum) > Multicrustacea (Superclass) > Malacostraca (Class) > Eumalacostraca (Subclass) > Eucarida (Superorder) > Decapoda (Order) > Pleocyemata (Suborder) > Brachyura (Infraorder) > Eubrachyura (Section) > Thoracotremata (Subsection) > Grapsoidea (Superfamily) > Sesarmidae (Family) > Parasesarma (Genus) > P. pictum (Species)
![Dotillidae (Family)](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0e28e_15a5490fb60c44268c764e5bca5a80c5~mv2_d_1431_3488_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_2389,al_c,q_90,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/b0e28e_15a5490fb60c44268c764e5bca5a80c5~mv2_d_1431_3488_s_2.jpg)
Classification: Arthropoda (Phylum) > Crustacea (Subphylum) > Multicrustacea (Superclass) > Malacostraca (Class) > Eumalacostraca (Subclass) > Eucarida (Superorder) > Decapoda (Order) > Pleocyemata (Suborder) > Brachyura (Infraorder) > Eubrachyura (Section) > Thoracotremata (Subsection) > Ocypodoidea (Superfamily) > Dotillidae (Family)
![Euryplacidae (Family)](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0e28e_4a95b1a2ea8648bca068a6bcf4cdafed~mv2_d_5352_6522_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1194,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/b0e28e_4a95b1a2ea8648bca068a6bcf4cdafed~mv2_d_5352_6522_s_4_2.jpg)
Classification: Arthropoda (Phylum) > Crustacea (Subphylum) > Multicrustacea (Superclass) > Malacostraca (Class) > Eumalacostraca (Subclass) > Eucarida (Superorder) > Decapoda (Order) > Pleocyemata (Suborder) > Brachyura (Infraorder) > Eubrachyura (Section) > Heterotremata (Subsection) > Goneplacoidea (Superfamily) > Euryplacidae (Family)
![Dotillidae (Family)](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0e28e_03f66029fe6942168d3c667c98e05a8d~mv2_d_1553_5724_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_3612,al_c,q_90,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/b0e28e_03f66029fe6942168d3c667c98e05a8d~mv2_d_1553_5724_s_2.jpg)
Classification: Arthropoda (Phylum) > Crustacea (Subphylum) > Multicrustacea (Superclass) > Malacostraca (Class) > Eumalacostraca (Subclass) > Eucarida (Superorder) > Decapoda (Order) > Pleocyemata (Suborder) > Brachyura (Infraorder) > Eubrachyura (Section) > Thoracotremata (Subsection) > Ocypodoidea (Superfamily) > Dotillidae (Family) > Tmethypocoelis (Genus) > Tmethypocoelis ceratophora (Species) Note: the specimen has lost its abdomen.
![Menippidae (Family)](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0e28e_cf1c175507ee4ab785376452f57f9340~mv2_d_2772_2499_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_883,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/b0e28e_cf1c175507ee4ab785376452f57f9340~mv2_d_2772_2499_s_4_2.jpg)
Classification: Arthropoda (Phylum) > Crustacea (Subphylum) > Multicrustacea (Superclass) > Malacostraca (Class) > Eumalacostraca (Subclass) > Eucarida (Superorder) > Decapoda (Order) > Pleocyemata (Suborder) > Brachyura (Infraorder) > Eubrachyura (Section) > Heterotremata (Subsection) > Eriphioidea (Superfamily) > Menippidae (Family)
![Dorippidae (Family)](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0e28e_74a5c1e9cf8b43b38132085daaf5bb6c~mv2_d_1719_4246_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_2421,al_c,q_90,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/b0e28e_74a5c1e9cf8b43b38132085daaf5bb6c~mv2_d_1719_4246_s_2.jpg)
Classification: Arthropoda (Phylum) > Crustacea (Subphylum) > Multicrustacea (Superclass) > Malacostraca (Class) > Eumalacostraca (Subclass) > Eucarida (Superorder) > Decapoda (Order) > Pleocyemata (Suborder) > Brachyura (Infraorder) > Eubrachyura (Section) > Heterotremata (Subsection) > Dorippoidea (Superfamily) > Dorippidae (Family)
![Xanthidae (Family)](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0e28e_f7a23b194ab64a41ad6ccaa274c6c068~mv2_d_3600_3748_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1020,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/b0e28e_f7a23b194ab64a41ad6ccaa274c6c068~mv2_d_3600_3748_s_4_2.jpg)
Classification: Arthropoda (Phylum) > Crustacea (Subphylum) > Multicrustacea (Superclass) > Malacostraca (Class) > Eumalacostraca (Subclass) > Eucarida (Superorder) > Decapoda (Order) > Pleocyemata (Suborder) > Brachyura (Infraorder) > Eubrachyura (Section) > Heterotremata (Subsection) > Xanthioidea (Superfamily) > Xanthidae (Family)
![Xanthidae (Family)](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0e28e_a4933454b38a4b2a9fc9ff0ce5624820~mv2_d_3600_3175_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_864,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/b0e28e_a4933454b38a4b2a9fc9ff0ce5624820~mv2_d_3600_3175_s_4_2.jpg)
Classification: Arthropoda (Phylum) > Crustacea (Subphylum) > Multicrustacea (Superclass) > Malacostraca (Class) > Eumalacostraca (Subclass) > Eucarida (Superorder) > Decapoda (Order) > Pleocyemata (Suborder) > Brachyura (Infraorder) > Eubrachyura (Section) > Heterotremata (Subsection) > Xanthioidea (Superfamily) > Xanthidae (Family)
![Portunidae (Family)](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0e28e_ea8d24fc9b8749caa2a619a9af75bdf9~mv2_d_2552_2028_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_779,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/b0e28e_ea8d24fc9b8749caa2a619a9af75bdf9~mv2_d_2552_2028_s_2.jpg)
Classification: Arthropoda (Phylum) > Crustacea (Subphylum) > Multicrustacea (Superclass) > Malacostraca (Class) > Eumalacostraca (Subclass) > Eucarida (Superorder) > Decapoda (Order) > Pleocyemata (Suborder) > Brachyura (Infraorder) > Eubrachyura (Section) > Heterotremata (Subsection) > Portunoidea (Superfamily) > Portunidae (Family) 2nd zoea stage
![Portunidae (Family)](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0e28e_647ffbc968e6426d809849a900e6f960~mv2_d_3223_3600_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1095,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/b0e28e_647ffbc968e6426d809849a900e6f960~mv2_d_3223_3600_s_4_2.jpg)
Classification: Arthropoda (Phylum) > Crustacea (Subphylum) > Multicrustacea (Superclass) > Malacostraca (Class) > Eumalacostraca (Subclass) > Eucarida (Superorder) > Decapoda (Order) > Pleocyemata (Suborder) > Brachyura (Infraorder) > Eubrachyura (Section) > Heterotremata (Subsection) > Portunoidea (Superfamily) > Portunidae (Family) 3rd zoea stage
![Pinnotheridae (Family)](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0e28e_40b69285ebc94d47896110200d4aceca~mv2_d_3546_2887_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_798,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/b0e28e_40b69285ebc94d47896110200d4aceca~mv2_d_3546_2887_s_4_2.jpg)
Classification: Arthropoda (Phylum) > Crustacea (Subphylum) > Multicrustacea (Superclass) > Malacostraca (Class) > Eumalacostraca (Subclass) > Eucarida (Superorder) > Decapoda (Order) > Pleocyemata (Suborder) > Brachyura (Infraorder) > Eubrachyura (Section) > Thoracotremata (Subsection) > Pinnotheroidea (Superfamily) > Pinnotheridae (Family)
![Liomera venosa (Species)](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0e28e_ade4687006144b61b83553cc92354916~mv2_d_3600_5620_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1530,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/b0e28e_ade4687006144b61b83553cc92354916~mv2_d_3600_5620_s_4_2.jpg)
Classification: Arthropoda (Phylum) > Crustacea (Subphylum) > Multicrustacea (Superclass) > Malacostraca (Class) > Eumalacostraca (Subclass) > Eucarida (Superorder) > Decapoda (Order) > Pleocyemata (Suborder) > Brachyura (Infraorder) > Eubrachyura (Section) > Heterotremata (Subsection) > Xanthoidea (Subfamily) > Xanthidae (Family) > Liomerinae (Subfamily) > Liomera (Genus) > Liomera venosa (Species)
![Metopograpsus frontalis (Species)](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0e28e_335712a66da14e9ba7184c70215f2206~mv2_d_2588_3600_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1363,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/b0e28e_335712a66da14e9ba7184c70215f2206~mv2_d_2588_3600_s_4_2.jpg)
Classification: Arthropoda (Phylum) > Crustacea (Subphylum) > Multicrustacea (Superclass) > Malacostraca (Class) > Eumalacostraca (Subclass) > Eucarida (Superorder) > Decapoda (Order) > Pleocyemata (Suborder) > Brachyura (Infraorder) > Eubrachyura (Section) > Thoracotremata (Subsection) > Grapsoidea (Superfamily) > Grapsidae (Family) > Metopograpsus (Genus) > Metopograpsus frontalis (Species)
![Pinnothereliinae (Subfamily)](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0e28e_f8eaed5c4f87472d968fe7dd26ccd92b~mv2_d_3600_2763_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_752,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/b0e28e_f8eaed5c4f87472d968fe7dd26ccd92b~mv2_d_3600_2763_s_4_2.jpg)
Classification: Arthropoda (Phylum) > Crustacea (Subphylum) > Multicrustacea (Superclass) > Malacostraca (Class) > Eumalacostraca (Subclass) > Eucarida (Superorder) > Decapoda (Order) > Pleocyemata (Suborder) > Brachyura (Infraorder) > Eubrachyura (Section) > Thoracotremata (Subsection) > Pinnotheroidea (Superfamily) > Pinnotheridae (Family) > Pinnothereliinae (Subfamily)
![Pinnotheridae (Family)](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0e28e_517c9f9bc8d94cd1b2c588d55b36f105~mv2_d_2400_1834_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_749,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/b0e28e_517c9f9bc8d94cd1b2c588d55b36f105~mv2_d_2400_1834_s_2.jpg)
Classification: Arthropoda (Phylum) > Crustacea (Subphylum) > Multicrustacea (Superclass) > Malacostraca (Class) > Eumalacostraca (Subclass) > Eucarida (Superorder) > Decapoda (Order) > Pleocyemata (Suborder) > Brachyura (Infraorder) > Eubrachyura (Section) > Thoracotremata (Subsection) > Pinnotheroidea (Superfamily) > Pinnotheridae (Family)
![Crab zoea #1C](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0e28e_1e7f7c9a04b24e01888f105c6e22083e~mv2_d_4000_3162_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_775,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/b0e28e_1e7f7c9a04b24e01888f105c6e22083e~mv2_d_4000_3162_s_4_2.jpg)
![Crab zoea #5C](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0e28e_c9680221fa5d42d3baeaecfffd02bbac~mv2_d_1944_2377_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1198,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/b0e28e_c9680221fa5d42d3baeaecfffd02bbac~mv2_d_1944_2377_s_2.jpg)
![Crab zoea #9](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0e28e_615a2fc22f1847b480bb176b74fc67e5~mv2_d_6046_4022_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_652,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/b0e28e_615a2fc22f1847b480bb176b74fc67e5~mv2_d_6046_4022_s_4_2.jpg)
![Crab zoea #13](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0e28e_8ea2b560679e434d9e43f619c7c2f41e~mv2_d_4576_3296_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_706,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/b0e28e_8ea2b560679e434d9e43f619c7c2f41e~mv2_d_4576_3296_s_4_2.jpg)
![Crab zoea #17](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0e28e_743a3de6022943179e5d4947a9bf9990~mv2_d_3600_2556_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_696,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/b0e28e_743a3de6022943179e5d4947a9bf9990~mv2_d_3600_2556_s_4_2.jpg)
![Crab zoea #18](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0e28e_179054bd6aa343358961124ed5530437~mv2_d_2400_3345_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1366,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/b0e28e_179054bd6aa343358961124ed5530437~mv2_d_2400_3345_s_4_2.jpg)
![Crab zoea #18](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0e28e_8bb68d11bd124e05a35053e2e81a2494~mv2_d_2992_3514_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1151,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/b0e28e_8bb68d11bd124e05a35053e2e81a2494~mv2_d_2992_3514_s_4_2.jpg)
![Crab zoea #27](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0e28e_5976de4f9ce3418284fa64852e3361f6~mv2_d_3600_6552_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1784,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/b0e28e_5976de4f9ce3418284fa64852e3361f6~mv2_d_3600_6552_s_4_2.jpg)
![Crab zoea #29](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0e28e_61b08591782b4d75b2960e4124ac523b~mv2_d_4574_3661_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_784,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/b0e28e_61b08591782b4d75b2960e4124ac523b~mv2_d_4574_3661_s_4_2.jpg)