Occurrence of Brachyuran Larvae in the Surf Zone of Fukiage Beach, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan

I. Families Grapsidae and Ocypodidae

Abstract

This paper deals with brachyuran larvae of the families Grapsidae and Ocypodidae collected from the surf zone of Fukiage beach, Kagoshima Prefecture. Descriptions are given of zoea I -II of Hemigrapsus ?sanguineus, zoea I of Sesarminae sp., zoea I -IV of Scopimera ?globosa, zoea I -IV of Ilyoplax ?pusilla, and zoea I of Macrophthalmus sp. Seasonal abundance of these zoeae throughout the 18-month study period showed high concentrations during the summer months (June to August) followed by a steady decline in autumn. The occurrences of successive intermediate zoeal stages of S. ?globosa and I. ?pusilla suggest that the surf zone is a part of nursery ground for the larvae of these two species.