GENERAL CRAB EMBRYOLOGY + Pachygrapsus DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES
-
Yolk first is divided into tiny cells.
-
I wasn't able to find any females with eggs this immature
-
Primordial tissues forming
-
Optical (op), cephalic (ca), and thoracic-abdominal (ta) appendages in the process of developing
-
Optical pigments forming, abdominal segmentation underway
-
abdominal cromatophores (ct) visible.
-
Primordia of antennae (aa), maxillae-maxillule (mb), and maxillipeds (mx) are differentiated
-
Only a slight trace of yolk
-
setae are growing on telson and appendages
-
Yolk is pretty much used up
-
All appendages ready for larval stage
-
Larva is ready to hatch
-
Eyes (op) increasing in complexity
-
Cromatophores (ct) are more noticeable
-
heart (h) is beating.
-
Rostrum (r) appears
-
Cephalic appendages larger
-
abdomen segmentation complete
-
setae (st) can be observed
Lined Shore Crab
Pachygrapsus crassipes
Below is the embryology of another crustacean Brachyuran, Goniopsis pulcra, which I will compare to my own observations with Pachygrapsus
