Descripción y clave de los primeros estadíos larvales de camarones carídeos (Decapoda: Hippolytidae, Alpheidae, Rhynchocinetidae) de aguas costeras de Chile

In order to facilitate studies concerning meroplankton, and especially about decapod larvae from shal- low waters of Chile, the present contribution provides a general description of both the first zoea of four species of Hippolytidae (Hippolyte williamsi, Latreutes antiborealis, Eualus dozei y Nauticaris magellanica), one of Rhychocinetidae (Rhychocinetidae typus), and the zoea II of three species of the family Alpheidae (Synalpheus spinifrons, Betaeus truncatus y B. emarginatus). Additionally, we present a key to determine the developmental stage and to identify the early zoeal stages of the eight species studied. The species identification of early zoeae of Hippolytidae and Rhynchocinetidae may be achieved rather uncomplicated, however, due to the lack of larval descriptions of three species in two genera of Alpheidae, the situation within this group is more complex. Based upon the results obtained, we conclude that the morphology of the antenna, the presence/absence of carapace spines, and the shape of the telson may serve as diagnostic features for the identification of the early larval stages of caridean species from Chile; even- tually, these features may be considered to establish phylogenetic relations based upon larval characters.