kitide
Kitide refers to the immature stage of certain marine invertebrates, most notably crustaceans like crabs and lobsters, and some mollusks. These larval forms are planktonic, meaning they drift in the water column, and often bear little resemblance to their adult counterparts. Their morphology is adapted for dispersal, enabling them to colonize new habitats.
The term "kitide" is often used interchangeably with other larval stage names such as nauplius, zoea, mysis,