protozoe

Protozoe is the second larval stage of a crab's life cycle, following the pre-larval stage known as the zoea. This stage typically appears after the crab has gone through two molts, and occurs when the crab is still in its juvenile and semi-larval state. During this time, the crab continues to develop and grow, adding scale covers to its body plates and its eye stalks begin to take form.

As with the zoea stage, the protozoe is entirely marine and is found in tropical and subtropical oceans across the world. The larval crab will typically spend a few weeks at this stage, and once it has reached a certain level of maturity, it will undergo another series of molts before transforming into a megalopa. This stage is an intermediate phase, and while it exhibits many characteristics of the adult crab, such as the presence of a clear abdomen and claws, it also retains many attributes of the larval stage.

Protozoe can be found in coastal waters where their crab mother laid the eggs, suggesting strong parental involvement in their larval cycle. This stage spends most of its time drifting at the surface of the water, using its small gill filaments to feed and breathe. The ability of the protozoe to survive for an extended period in the open ocean highlights the resourcefulness and resilience of these tiny marine animals. It is during this stage that the larvae are most spread out in vast distances from the shore and colonies of their parent crab, increasing the odds of them migrating to healthy and self-sustaining ecosystems.