Juvenile development of Uca (Minuca) Burgersi holthuis, 1967 (Crustacea, brachyura, ocypodidae) in the laboratory

Abstract

The fiddler crab Uca (Minuca) burgersi has been recorded in eastern American coast, from Florida to Brazil (from Maranhão to São Paulo). The juvenile stages of U. burgersi are described here based on material reared under laboratory conditions. Additionally a comparison of juvenile morphology is given for the juvenile of other species already studied with occurrence in the Brazilian coast. Larvae of U. burgersi were obtained from one ovigerous female hatched in the laboratory, which reached until the tenth juvenile stage. Rearing was conducted in a temperature-controlled climatic chamber at 25±1ºC, 34‰ salinity and 12/12 (L/D) photoperiod. The first juvenile crab appeared at 43 days after hatching. Only one individual reached the tenth stage 174 days after hatching. The morphology of first juvenile crab was described as well as morphological changes throughout juvenile development. The sexual definition occurs in the fourth juvenile stage, abdominal dimorphism occurs in the sixth juvenile stage and chelipeds dimorphism occurs in the seventh juvenile stage.