Abstract
The larval development of the swimming crab Charybdis natator (Herbst, 1789) was studied from first zoea to megalopa under laboratory conditions. Six zoeal stages and one megalopal stage were identified, and detailed descriptions and illustrations are provided for each stage. At an average salinity and temperature of 31±1‰ and 23±1℃, the megalopa was attained 38 days after hatching. Morphologically, the first zoea of C. natator is very similar to those of other species of Charybdis in having lateral spines on the carapace ; three pairs of serrate setae on the posterior margin of the telson furca ; one plus six setae on the endopod of the maxillule ; and five setae on the endopod of the maxilla. The differences between the first zoea and megalopa of C. natator and those of its congeners are discussed.
