Illustrated keys for the identification of the Pleocyemata (Crustacea: Decapoda) zoeal stages, from the coastal region of south-western Europe

Abstract

The identification keys of the zoeal stages of Pleocyemata decapod larvae from the coastal region of south-western Europe, based on both new and previously published descriptions and illustrations, are provided. The keys cover 127 taxa, most of them identified to genus and species level. These keys were mainly constructed upon external morphological characters, which are easy to observe under a stereomicroscope. Moreover, the presentation of detailed figures allows a non-specialist to make identifications more easily.