The first zoeal stage of Parthenope macrochelos (Herbst, 1790) hatched in the laboratory (Crustacea : Brachyura : Parthenopidae)

The first zoeal stage of the parthenopid crab Parthenope macrochelos is des cribed and illustrated from laboratory-hatched material obtained from an ov igerous crab captured in the western Mediterranean. The first larva of P. m acrochelos possesses all the characters as diagnostic of the Parthenopidae and some additional features, including a seta on the basal segment of the endopod of the maxillule and a well developed lateral spine on the telson f orks. The present stage is compared with those previously described from ot her species of the genus Parthenope.