The study Characterization of morphology and abundance of zoea larval stages of two species of the family Epialtidae (Crustacea: Brachyura) in the coastal waters of Hengam Island (The Persian Gulf)

This research has been done on larval stage of two species of Epialtidae''s Family on coastal waters of Hengam Island (The Persian Gulf) in 2011. Sampling is done by plankton net with 300 μm mesh size by method of diagonal traction from bottom to surface in 6 station for a year from winter 2011 to autumn 2012. This research is done based on morphological characteristics، such as overall shape and appendages of larvae in the lab by contrast phase inverted microscope of the first zoea larval stages of species Menaethuis monoceros and second zoea of Menaethiops nodulosus was studied. Larval species density studied at different stations and seasons were calculated. The highest average density respectively with 22/33 and 72/7 individual per m3 in the summer was calculated.