Description of the first juvenile stage of Dilocarcinus septemdentatus (Herbst, 1783) (Crustacea, Decapoda, Trichodactylidae)

Abstract A total of 38 freshwater brachyuran species occur in Brazil, of which 79% are distributed in the northern region. However, for only two species of freshwater crabs are descriptions available for their juveniles. The importance of these studies lies in understanding of life-cycle aspects as well the potential elucidation of phylogenetic relationships within the group because the characters are usually solely based on adult specimens. The morphology of the first juvenile stage of the Dilocarcinus septemdentatus (Herbst, 1783) is described and illustrated for the first time based on spec...