The larval development and survival in the two subantarctic
lithodid crabs Lithodes santolla (Jaquinot) and Paralomis
granulosa (Molina) from the Argentine Beagle Channel were
studied in laboratory cultures. In L. santolla, larval
development lasted about 70 days, passing through three zoeal
stages and the megalopa stage, with a duration of approximately
4, 7, 11 and 48 days, respectively. The larval development in P.
granulosa is more abbreviated, comprising only two zoeal stages
and the megalopa stage, with 6, 11 and 43 days' duration,
respectively. In both species, we tested for effects of presence
versus absence of food (Artemia nauplii) on larval development
duration and survival rate. In P. granulosa, we also studied
effects of different rearing conditions, such as individual
versus mass cultures, as well as aerated versus unaerated
cultures. No differences in larval development duration and
survival were observed between animals subjected to those
different rearing conditions. The lack of response to t