Morphological diversity in true and false crabs reveals the plesiomorphy of the megalopa phase

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 14; no. 1; p. 8682
• Main Authors: Braig, Florian, Haug, Carolin, Haug, Joachim T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 15.04.2024; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 631/136; 631/601; Adults; Aquatic crustaceans; Biodiversity; Brachyura; Carnivorous animals; Crustaceans; Decapoda; Evolution; Humanities and Social Sciences; Larvae; Marine crustaceans; Morphology; multidisciplinary; Phylogenetics; Phylogeny; Science; Science (multidisciplinary)

Brachyura and Anomala (or Anomura), also referred to as true and false crabs, form the species-rich and globally abundant group of Meiura, an ingroup of Decapoda. The evolutionary success of both groups is sometimes attributed to the process of carcinization (evolving a crab-like body), but might al...