Embryological development of the freshwater crab Esanthelphusa nani (Naiyanetr, 1984) (Brachyura: Gecarcinucidae) using confocal laser scanning microscopy

Abstract

Abstract We investigated the embryological development of Esanthelphusa nani (Naiyanetr, 1984), a common rice-field crab in northern Thailand, using confocal laser scanning microscopy. The development of E. nani can be completed in eggs within 12 d resulting in a hatchling stage corresponding to the megalopa stage. Pre-organogenetic stages were characterized by a superficial cleavage, including egg cleavage, egg blastula, and egg gastrula. Organogenesis stages were identified by the appearances of appendages and was divided into egg nauplius, egg zoea, and egg megalopa. Crabs metamorphose to juveniles after hatching. By providing new comparative data, our study shed some new light on the relationship between environment, phylogeny, and development, opening a potential area of research from the perspective of ecological, evolutionary, and developmental biology.