What is crab larve?

Crab larvae typically hatch from eggs laid by adult female crabs. They go through several stages of development before they reach adulthood. During these stages, they may look very different from adult crabs, and may have different behaviors and habitat preferences.

The first stage of crab larvae is the zoea, which hatches from the egg as a tiny larva with a broad, flat carapace and a pair of long spines. Zoea typically feed on plankton and small organisms in the water.

After several molts, zoea transform into megalops, which have a more developed carapace and limbs. They may begin to venture out of the water and onto the shore, but still rely on moist environments to survive.

Eventually, megalops metamorphose into juvenile crabs, which resemble adult crabs but are smaller and still developing their body structures. They continue to grow and develop over time until they reach adulthood.

Crab larvae play an important role in the life cycle of crabs, and also serve as an important food source for many other organisms in marine ecosystems.