Zoology Publications from Victoria University of Wellington—Nos. 78, 79 and 80

Palaemonid larval characters

1.	Carapace with supraorbital spines bearing retrorse spinules from zoea 2 onward (Figs. 4C, D, K).
2.	Pereiopod 5 not much longer than pereiopod 4 when latter developed (Figs. 4C, K), except in Leander (Fig. 4D).
3.	Protopod of maxilla with three endites only (Figs. 41, J), exopod longer than endopod except in early larvae of Periclimenes.

**Key to larvae of New Zealand Palaemonidae**
A.	Body with double bend, especially in late larvae; carapace without dorsomedial spines; rostrum shorter than half the length of the antennular peduncle; abdomen without spines on somite 5 (Fig. 4C)	Periclimenes spp. Periclimenaeus novae zealandiae?
	Body straight or abdomen curved ventrally; carapace with dorsomedial spines bearing spinules from zoea 2 onward; rostrum subequal in length to antennular peduncle; abdomen with posterolateral spines on somite 5 in all zoeae or from zoea 2 onward (Figs. 4D, K)	B
B.	Carapace never with more than two dorsomedial spines; pereiopods 1-3 with exopod; pereiopod 5 develops before pereiopod 3, much longer than pereiopods 3-4 when latter developed; Maxilliped 1 with inner margin of basis strongly protuberant in all zoeae; endopod of maxilla without basal lobe (Figs. 4D, H, J)	Leander tenuicornis
	Carapace with three dorsomedial spines from zoea 4 onwards; pereiopods 1-4 with exopod; pereiopod 5 not developed before pereiopod 3, not much longer than pereiopods 3-4 when latter developed; maxilliped 1 without inner margin of basis strongly protruberant in early larvae; endopod of maxilla with basal lobe (Figs. 4G, I, K)	Palaemon affinis