Some Biological Observations of the Mole Crabs (Hippidae, Anomura, Decapoda, Crustacea) in Sagami Bay and the Complete Larval Development of Hippa truncatifrons (MIERS)

According to MIYAKE (1978, 1982), there have been three species of the mole crabs, Hippa adactyla FABRICIUS, H. truncatifrons (MIERS) and H. pacifica (DANA) (Hippidae, Anomura, Decapoda, Crustacea) in the Japanese waters. Only one species, H. adactyla have been known from Sagami Bay. In the course of this study, the latter species, H. truncatifrons and H. pacifica were newly found from Sagami Bay, and H. truncatifrons predominates among the three species throughout the studied areas. In this study, the authors described and illustrated their distribution, variation of the body, colourations, growth rate, and feeding and mating habits. The authors also studies complete larval development of H. truncatifron. The larvae are reared in the laboratory and passed through five zoeal and one glaucothoe stages and reached to the first crab stage. All the larval and the first crab stages are described and illustrated herein, and some brief comparision and discussion with other related species are also given