title: Morphology of the first zoeal stages of five species of the portunid genus Callinectes (Decapoda, Brachyura) hatched at the laboratory.
abstract: The genus Callinectes Stimpson, 1860 currently consists of 16 species, six of which are reported in Brazilian coast. In the present study, the first zoeal stages of Callinectes bocourti, C. danae, C. exasperatus, C. ornatus and C. sapidus from Brazil were obtained from ovigerous females. The morphological and meristic characters of all these larval stages are described and illustrated. Those of C. bocourti, C. danae and C. sapidus are redescribed and compared with the previous descriptions, and differences are listed. Larval characters of these species were examined for interspecific differences, as well as larval features to distinguish the genus Callinectes within Portunidae. In addition, other portunid genera and species with a known first zoeal stage are compared, with special attention to those species present in the same geographical area. Our findings concord with some previous molecular studies, and we discuss the complexity within the group.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Comparada, Laboratório de Biogeologia e Sistemática de Crustáceos/LBSC, Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto/FFCLRP, Universidade de São Paulo/USP, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Fernando L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Mantelatto
authors.affiliation: PPG-ECOMAR, UNISANTA, Santos, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Álvaro L D
authors.initials: ÁLD
authors.lastname: Reigada
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Comparada, Laboratório de Biogeologia e Sistemática de Crustáceos/LBSC, Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto/FFCLRP, Universidade de São Paulo/USP, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Aline C R
authors.initials: ACR
authors.lastname: Gatti
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciencias Marinas de Andalucía/ICMAN-CSIC, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain.
authors.forename: José A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cuesta