Abstract
Twenty seven species of Majid crabs have been reported from Pakistani waters (Tirmizi & Kazmi,1996). They play an important role
in coastal ecology. Present information is based on the study of first zoeal stages of eight species of Majid crabs: Achaeus lacertosus
Stimpson 1858; Doclea muricata (Herbst, 1788); Acanthonyx limbatus A. Milne Edwards,1862; Menaethiops nodulosus (Nobili,
1905); Menaethiops bicornis Alcock, 1895; Schizophrys aspera (H. Milne Edwards, 1834); Schizophrys pakistanienses Tirmizi &
Kazmi, 1995 and Micippa platipes Rupell, 1830. They are reared under the laboratory conditions in Marine Reference Collection and
Resource Centre. The first zoeae are described along with illustrations. The comparison between their morphological characters are
also noted in a tabulated form.
