Morphological characters based on original descriptions (see Table 14) of the megalopa of ten species among four families from the
South Atlantic. Setation data refer to numbers of setae per segment, progressing proximally to distally. Abbrevations: Mx1: maxillule;
Mx2: maxilla; Mxp2: maxilliped 2; Mxp3: maxilliped 3.
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Family/Species Rostrum orientation Carapace (cpx) Mx1 Mx2 Mxp1 Mxp3
and morphology outgrowths or endopod endopod epipod epipod
spines on 4th setation setation setation setation
sternal segment
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HYMENOSOMATIDAE
Halicarcinus planatus directed anteriorly cpx smooth 0 4 2 21

ATELECYCLIDAE
Peltarion (Platilambrus) spinulosum
deflected ventrally cpx with spines 4 7 14 25

BELLIIDAE
Acanthocyclus albatrossis short cpx smooth 1,2 2 11 13
Acanthocyclus gayi short/bilobed cpx with protuberances 2,4 7 8 15
Corystoides chilensis short/bilobed cpx with 2,2 4 8 14
anterolateral spines

PORTUNIDAE
Arenaeus cribrarius directed anteriorly, sternal spines present 2,2 5 26 24
developed
Callinectes sapidus directed anteriorly, sternal spines present 6,4 3 18 18
developed
Ovalipes catharus deflected ventrally sternal spines present ? ? ? ?
Portunus spinicarpus directed anteriorly, sternal spines present 6,2 3 26 15
developed
Scylla serrata directed anteriorly, sternal spines present 3,2 5 ca.23 ca.27
developed
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