Morphology of the larval stages of Pitho aculeata (Gibbes, 1850) (Crustacea, Brachyura, Majoidea) and its implications on the taxonomic position of the genus

ABSTRACT

The larval development of Pitho aculeata is described and illustrated in detail. The characters described are used to discuss recent molecular phylogenetic findings suggesting that Pitho is a genus in Mithracidae sensu stricto. Based on species with known larval development, our results indicate that Pitho shares more similarities with mithracids than epialtids and therefore it should be included in the former family. Presently, there appear to be no diagnostic characteristics for the zoeal stages; however, for the megalopa the fused antennal articles 5 and 6 and the distinct number of setae on the abdominal somites 1–5 can be used to differentiate Pitho from other majoideans.

RESPONSIBLE EDITOR:

• Matz Berggren

KEYWORDS:

• Decapoda
• Epialtidae
• larval development; Mithracidae
• ontogeny; Tychinae

Acknowledgements

We thank Carlos Lira, Ricardo José Marcano, Régulo López (Universidad de Oriente) and the fisherman Chupapa for their help during the fieldwork.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCiD

William Santana http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3086-4419

Jessica Colavite http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1908-3160

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo – FAPESP under grant nos. 2013/01201-0 and 2014/15549-0.