A redescription of Macrocheira kaempferi (Temminck, 1836) zoeas with a discussion of the classification of the Majoidea Samouelle, 1819 (Crustacea: Brachyura)

Abstract

The zoeal stages of the Japanese giant spider crab, Macrocheira kaempferi, are redescribed and the new information is used to reappraise the classification of the majoids. Phylogenetic relationships among the zoeas of 10 spider crab genera are investigated using PAUP, and two equally parsimonious cladograms were generated. The cladogram with the lowest f-value was selected and it formed the basis for a proposal of a new familial classification of the Majoidea (sensu Guinot, 1978: 214).

Keywords :

• Zoea
• Majoidea
• Decapoda
• phylogenetics