Are decorator crabs born in a egg or alive?
Decorator crabs, and other large crabs called Decapods, first lay eggs. These eggs are carried by the mother outside her body, under a flap called her abdomen, or telson. These eggs are actually outside the mother, the flap does not completely enclose them. When the eggs hatch, they are released as a type of larvae called a zoea. Zoea have very big eyes and do not look at all like the adult crab. They float near the surface of the water and feed on small particles. These zoea are very tiny. After several zoea stages (separated by molting periods), they metamorphose into megalops larvae. When an animal undergoes metamorphosis they change appearance from one thing to another. This is how a caterpillar becomes a butterfly! Megalops look more like an adult crab and are bigger than the zoea. Finally, the megalops metamorphoses into an adult crab! BACK TO ARTHROPODA INDEX OR ANSWER FILE Dead Crab on Beach Q: I saw a spooky looking crab on the beach with a tail like a dagger. I would like to
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