| Abstract |
The complete larval development of _Sadayoshia edwardsii _(Miers, 1884) is described and illustrated from laboratory-reared material. The development comprises four zoeal and one megalopal stages. Diagnostic zoeal characters of _Sadayoshia_ are provided and these are compared with other galatheid genera for which the larval morphology is known. Zoeas of _S. edwardsii _are readily distinguished from those of other galatheid species by the setation of the maxillular endopod together with the basis and endopod of the first maxilliped. The megalop of _S. edwardsii_ has a flattened, triangular-shaped rostrum, which differs remarkably from that of the adult. Although the rostral shape resembles that of _Galathea_ megalops, the armature of the lateral margins is different between megalops of the two genera. The present larval study suggests that _Sadayoshia_ is more closely allied to _Galathea_ than to _Munida_. |
