Eurypanopeus depressus and Eurypanopeus dissimilis, two estuarine species of xanthid crabs, were raised under laboratory conditions. Four zoeal stages and one megalopal stage were observed in both species. The larvae of E. dissimilis have a longer intermolt period and grow to a larger size than E. depressus. E. dissimilis can be distinguished from E. depressus on the basis of three main features: 1) greater telson armature, 2) longer endopod in relation to the protopod of the antenna in the fourth zoeal stage, and 3) presence of the frontal horns on the carapace of the megalopa. Distinctions between larvae of E. dissimilis and Panopeus herbstii were negligible, except for the endopod of the maxilla in the megalopal stages. These results and others suggest that the current taxonomic placement of E. dissimilis may be incorrect and should be reassigned into the genus Panopeus.
| Date of Award | Jan 1 1987 |
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| Original language | English |
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| Supervisor | Robert H. Gore (Supervisor), Curtis Burney (Advisor) & Richard E. Dodge (Advisor) |
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