Stimpson, 1859
Zoea [Menippe nodifrons 1]
¥ Number of stages in the zoeal phase: 5(6).
¥ Morphological characters of first zoea [Table 11 First zoeae of Xanthidae]:
Carapace with medio-dorsal knob.
Carapace with lateral spines.
Abdominal somite 5 with, and somites 3-4 without, a sharp postero-lateral process.
Antenna type D (type D).
Maxillule endopod setation: 1, 4.
Maxillule scaphognatite with 4 plumose seate.
Maxillliped 1 basis and endopod setation: 10; 3, 2, 1, 2, 5.
Maxillliped 2 basis and endopod setation: 4; 0, 1, 4.
Furcae of telson with smooth surface.
Telson furcae with 1 dorsal, 2 outer and no inner spines.
Megalopa [Menippe nodifrons]
¥ Number of stages in the megalopal phase: 1.
¥ Morphological characters of megalopa [Table 18 Mgp Xanthidae]:
Rostrum short, directed anteriorly.
Carapace smooth.
Maxillule (mx1) endopod setation: 1, 4.
Maxilla (mx2) endopod setation: 4-6.
First maxilliped (mxp1) epipod setation: 12-26.
Third maxilliped (mxp3) epipod setation: 26-36.
Larval stages described by Scotto, 1979.
Geographical distribution of adult
Occidental Atlantic: Florida, Gulf of Mexico, The West Indies, Central America, northern South America, Guianas and Brazil (Maranho to Santa Catarina)
Oriental Atlantic: Cape Verde Island to Angola.
Depth range of adult
Intertidal zone - 10 m.